WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Delahunt announced that the Congress approved $1.9 million for the Corps of Engineers to dredge the inner harbor of Green Harbor in Marshfield.

"The maintenance of coastal harbors and waterways is essential to the economic livelihood of the South Shore and our region,” said Delahunt. “This vital funding will go a long way to improve navigation in Green Harbor for the commercial fishing fleet, and recreational boaters as well as help to improve the tourist economy of the region.” 

The federal funding for the project was included in an omnibus appropriations bill passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President late last month. Several local projects championed by Delahunt were also included in the legislation.

The project would entail removing 22,000 cubic yards of material from the inner harbor which has not been dredged since 1983. Extensive shoaling has occurred since, and access to the harbor has been severely restricted. The Inner Harbor, originally constructed in 1967-1968, is located within a federally managed area maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has also provided funding for the project.

Specifically, Green Harbor supports a variety of commercial and recreational uses. According to the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries, there are over 50 commercial fishing boats working out of Marshfield and the port was ranked 8th in the state in catch for state landings. Also, the Massachusetts Seaport Council states that the harbor generates the second largest Atlantic bluefin tuna landings in the state. The harbor is estimated to generate a total annual value of landings close to $2,567,000.

Capt. Ed Barrett, the president of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership and member of the Marshfield Commercial Fishermen’s Association, said: “This funding will enable deepening of the harbor and make Green Harbor safer for navigation by recreational, commercial and charter boat fishing operations.  It will also increase economic activity in the harbor by providing full-time access to all areas and moorings for vessels of all types.  We applaud Congressman Delahunt for working effectively to make this funding a priority.”

“This dredging project will greatly help Green Harbor and will bring us back to a legitimate Harbor of safe refuge on either side of the tide. The Harbor’s functionality would ultimately be enhanced with the dredging,” said Mike DiMeo, Town of Marshfield Harbormaster.

The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining safe navigation in over 170 ports throughout New England, including many in coastal communities throughout the Tenth Congressional District.  In recent years, Delahunt has led efforts in the House to reverse these policies and increase funding for coastal navigation improvements.

 

-30-