Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A Productive Hearing
Yesterday the Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs conducted a hearing on federal fisheries management issues at Faneuil Hall in Boston. The hearing was arranged by Senator Scott Brown, and was chaired by Senator Tom Carper of Delaware. Throughout the hearing Senator Brown asked important questions about why fishermen have been victimized by fisheries enforcement officials and why the misspending of improperly imposed fines was sanctioned by those same officials. I was pleased to be able to attend the hearing, which was an important step in identifying some serious improprieties in the way our fisheries are managed and the action steps needed to get back on a course of fair treatment for fishing families and a regulatory framework that rebuilds stocks while allowing sustainable harvests of fish to benefit our nation.
Thanks to Senator Brown for his strong leadership on behalf of those who risk their lives at sea to bring fish to consumers.
Stories about the hearing from the Gloucester Daily Times and the Boston Globe are posted below.
Gloucester Daily Times What Does It Take to Get Fired Senator Asks
Globe...Senators Told That Fines Hit Fishermen Unfairly
