Fighting for Our Fishermen

On Monday, I attended a special information session regarding the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that was held at the Massachusetts State House.  Fishermen, legislative leaders, and industry experts provided compelling testimony that the current system is an example of archaic and arbitrary rules and regulations that have provided few benefits and great hardships at the expense of a once thriving fishing industry.

For years I have advocated for better science to assess the fish stocks off the Atlantic Coast.  The current fish assessment measures are antiquated, and do not provide an accurate description of the groundfish populations.  Yesterday’s session afforded fishing advocates a great opportunity to present their argument to Chairman Mark Beglich (D-Alaska), the Chair of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard.

I am extremely thankful for the Chairman taking the time to visit Massachusetts and hear from the people who are affected by the regulations governing the fishing industry.  I would also like to thank U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren for coordinating the hearing.  Also in attendance were U.S. Senator Ed Markey, Congressmen John Tierney, and Congressman Bill Keating. With the help of fishermen, fishing advocates, federal officials, and state officials working together, it is my hope we can enact real change for effective measures and controls that foster responsible ways of sustaining fish populations.

Please click here to read Gloucester Daily Times Reporter Sean Horgan’s report regarding the information session.