In a press release, issued yesterday, Monday, April 9, 2007 – Monday, April 9, 2007 – Governor Patrick of Massachusetts – today submitted to the federal government documentation showing regional economic losses of $22 million due to recent changes in federal commercial fishing regulations and called for federal relief for the Massachusetts groundfishing fleet.
“Everyone agrees that the stocks of groundfish in the waters off the coast of Massachusetts need to be replenished,” said Governor Patrick. “Everyone also agrees that the fishing industry needs to remain part of the life of the Commonwealth. The revenue declines experienced by fishing communities represent a true economic disaster."
Governor Patrick sent the report – compiled by the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) -- to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez in support of his earlier request for a federal declaration of economic disaster affecting the Massachusetts commercial groundfishing fleet.
Declaration of a “fisheries resource disaster” due to regulatory restriction, under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended by the Reauthorization Act of 2006, is a necessary first step toward obtaining emergency relief from the federal government that could allow the fishing fleet to survive a period of regulatory restriction on groundfish that is having a disproportionate impact on Massachusetts vessels.
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