Fishing
Congressman Tierney continues to work with many Congressional leaders from both chambers, both parties and numerous states, to urge the Department of Commerce to improve conditions for the fishing community.
Since the Department of Commerce declared a fishery resource failure for the Northeast Multispecies Groundfish Fishery, Congressman Tierney has worked tirelessly to provide financial relief to fishermen and their families in the local community. For close to two years, Congressman Tierney pressed the House Republican leadership to provide this much-needed assistance. Congressman Tierney championed bipartisan legislation that would use an existing source of funding to provide over $100 million in assistance, and ultimately ensure that this funding source continue to be used to protect and enhance our domestic fishing industry. Ultimately, in January 2014, Congressman Tierney and his Massachusetts colleagues succeeded in including $75 million in disaster assistance in Fiscal Year 2014 spending legislation. This is a long overdue victory for those fishermen in need.
Additionally, Congressman Tierney is working closely with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on legislation to strengthen and improve the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which is the primary law governing fishing in federal waters. Congressman Tierney firmly believes that maintaining a healthy ocean and supporting a thriving fishing industry go hand-in-hand. He continues to push for common-sense reforms to the Act that reflect the most up-to-date scientific information and support the fishing industry.
In addition, Congressman Tierney has consistently held the Department of Commerce and NOAA accountable for their wrongful and inappropriate behavior toward fishermen. The Congressman convened congressional hearings on these allegations, including one at Gloucester City Hall. This is believed to be the first congressional hearing to ever occur in the City of Gloucester. As a result of these investigations, multiple Inspector General (IG) reports have been published and hundreds of thousands of dollars in improperly collected fines have been returned to local fishermen.
Congressman Tierney believes there is more work to be done and progress to be made in order to continue serving and protecting our fishing communities, and he will continue to fight to make sure our fishermen and their families are treated with the fairness and respect they deserve.
More on Fishing
BOSTON — As of May 1, commercial fishermen in New England won't be allowed to catch as many cod and haddock and other groundfish — not nearly as many. Federal regulators have drastically reduced so-called catch limits so that depleted stocks can recover.
On Boston's fish pier Monday, with a newly painted fishing boat as a backdrop, fishermen and Massachusetts politicians railed against the new catch limits — and asked for a reprieve.
Washington, DC – Congressmen John Tierney and Barney Frank today urged their Senate colleagues to secure answers from John Bryson, the President's nominee to be the Secretary of Commerce, on a number of important issues facing our fishing community. In a letter sent to Senator John D. Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Congressmen Tierney and Frank outlined critical questions that Mr. Bryson should answer when he appears before the Committee as part of the confirmation process.
Washington, DC--Congressmen John Tierney and Barney Frank today released the following joint statement in response to the announcement by the Obama administration of the nomination of John Bryson, co-founder and former attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council, for the position of Secretary of Commerce.