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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 37 Number 8
April 2010
Fishermen descend on DC to demand change
WASHINGTON, DC – Several thousand fishermen, many accompanied by their wives and children, poured into the nation’s Capitol on Feb. 24 to declare their outrage over a federal fishery management system that is putting people out of work and shattering coastal communities around the country.
The majority of these commercial and recreational fishermen came from East Coast states, although some traveled from the Gulf and West Coasts and some came from as far away as Alaska.
The throng that packed a park area adjacent to the Capitol Building got the attention of members of Congress. One after another, starting just after noon, more than a dozen US senators and representatives hiked over from their offices to climb onto the simple stage and address the crowd.
Hailing mostly from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and North Carolina, the lawmakers assured fishermen they were with them and would do what they could to help.
US Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the first congressional speaker, delivered a passionate address, beginning with this greeting.
“Good afternoon, America’s fishermen,” he roared as the crowd cheered and applauded. “America has a large and strong fishing industry, and it’s time our voices were heard.”
Schumer touched on several themes that were to be repeated again and again during the nearly three-hour event – science, jobs, flexibility, and the power of political pressure.
“The days of managing with ideology, not science, need to come to an end. Rebuilding our fisheries is important but we need to start caring as much about our fishermen as our fisheries,” he said. “New York’s fishermen don’t need arbitrary deadlines.”
Lobby your reps
Schumer urged fishermen to tell their congressional representatives to support the “Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009” (see story page 9B). Schumer is the author of the Senate version of the bill, S 1255. The House version, HR 1584, was filed by US Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ).
“This is bipartisan legislation that allows more flexibility so that boats aren’t arbitrarily tied to the dock,” Schumer said. “Call your senator. Call your congressman. Urge them to be at our side and don’t stop until we get flexibility in fishing.”
Pallone was clearly energized by the massive turnout.
“This is an incredible crowd,” he announced. “I have never seen a rally this big in this area.”
Then he spoke of his admiration and concern for fishermen.
“There is no group more environmentally conscious than the fishermen. Fishermen were the first to stop ocean dumping. Fishermen are willing to live with some restrictions. But what’s being done by the federal bureaucracy is not based on science,” he said.
“We need flexibility. That’s the only way we’re going to make change here,” Pallone continued.
Referring to the signs in the crowd reading “I Fish and I Vote,” he added, “That’s the only thing people in this place understand. You send that message and we will win.”
Spontaneous
The rally was practically an ad hoc event. While Jim Donofrio of the Recreational Fisheries Alliance, Ray Bogan of United Boatmen, and Bob Zales II, who is affiliated with the Florida charter boat industry, did some vital groundwork, there seemed to be little in the way of formal organization.
Still, word spread quickly that fishermen were planning to gather in Washington, DC on Feb. 24. Fishing associations arranged for buses and group airfares, while smaller groups checked out train schedules or organized carpools, and many individuals and families just got into their trucks and drove.
The primary aim of the rally was to call attention to the havoc being wrought on all fishermen by the 10-year rebuilding timeframe mandate in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).
The rebuilding requirements recently have resulted in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announcing sweeping quota cuts for several important recreational and commercial species that are expected to seriously hamper sport, charter, and commercial fisheries.
“Big lies”
Bogan served as master of ceremonies for the event. In his opening remarks, he told the assembly that even before the rally began, fishermen’s representatives had attended more than 100 meetings with members of Congress and congressional staffers.
“This is an extraordinary showing of unity,” he said.
Later in the rally, Bogan engaged the crowd by asking two pointed questions that played directly to fishermen’s frustrations.
“If you conserve, you’ll have more fishing opportunities. True?” he asked.
The crowd shouted “No.”
Bogan continued, “The environmental industry cares more than you do. True?”
Again, the crowd shouted “No.”
These, Bogan concluded, are the “two big lies” that government has told fishermen and that environmentalists have sold to government.
Local ties
In addition to the high-profile congressional people, a number of local political leaders offered remarks, as did some industry people.
Massachusetts state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester spoke of her personal family connections to the commercial fishing industry and said that problems the industry is experiencing today are rooted in a lack of respect.
“Today we have fishermen from Alaska to New Jersey to Massachusetts. It is a brotherhood. The world needs to know the sacrifice you make when each and every one of you leaves your port to fish to feed this nation,” she said. “It’s about time that sacrifice gets the respect it deserves. The environmentalists need to hear this message.”
As the rally wound down and people began getting ready to make their long trips home, US Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) invited everyone from Massachusetts to meet privately with him in the Dirksen Senate Office Building adjacent to the park. Brown was recently elected to fill the seat held by long-time fishermen’s advocate and friend Ted Kennedy.
More than 100 people tramped up the hill to the building, passed through security, and crowded into a hearing room to get to know the new senator and to tell him their concerns.
Brown was plain spoken about the fact that he had a lot to learn, yet he strongly indicated that he got the message.
“I don’t know all the ins and outs of the industry but I know you have some challenges, the biggest of which are to provide for your families and stay in business,” he said. “I understand that if something is not done, you will be out of business. That’s not good for our state or for our country. The MSA needs to be fixed.”
Lorelei Stevens
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