Barney Frank’s Statement Regarding NOAA Announcement of Deep Cuts in Fish Catch Allocations

Aug 2, 2012 Issues: Fishing

WASHINGTON – Congressman Barney Frank today released the following statement in response to the announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) of further, deep cuts in catch allocations for cod, haddock, yellowtail flounder and American plaice.

We received advance notice of the cuts and already we are meeting with industry and working on two fronts to address this crisis.

First, we will find out what legal authority exists to reduce the severity of the cuts.

Second, given that some cuts appear to be inevitable, we will try to formulate plans for the federal government to alleviate the economic damage, just as it has done for farmers in the case of drought.