New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell will join New Bedford commercial fishermen in Washington D.C., for a march and rally on Capitol Hill. Organizers anticipate thousands of fishermen hailing from ports across America will participate in the rally. The event will draw attention to the damaging effect federal fisheries regulations are having on America’s commercial fishing industry.
Mayor Mitchell said rally attendees will urge Congress to address the lack of flexibility in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and pointed to the 10-year rebuilding requirement as an example of the Act’s inflexibility.
“Decisions need to be based on timely, accurate information. Today, the federal government is relying on data from 2007 and the lack of fresh, reliable science is unacceptable,” the Mayor said.
“An important step in the right direction is for Congress is to pass the Kerry-Snowe Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act which will invest in fishing science that we can have confidence in,” he continued.
The Port of New Bedford is America’s #1 fishing port with landings valued at $306 million. New Bedford is New England’s seafood hub, with more than 30 processors and distributors, ranging in size from high-volume international wholesale to local retail operations.
