Editorial: Commerce visitors can't just throw money at fishing woes

It's good to know that Department of Commerce's "economic assessment team" promised by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will be coming to Gloucester next week for a series of workshops exploring the toll the government's fishing regulations and enforcement have taken on the city's economy.

indeed, the timing of the visit by those with the Economic Development Administration just a day into the start of the second New England commercial fishing season under NOAA's beleaguered catch share management system shows that Commerce officials are finally giving priority to issues that should have been addressed long before now.

And Mayor Carolyn Kirk's move to keep some of the sessions open to the public, as noted in today's Page 1 news story, represents a good sign of recognition that Gloucester's economic hardship is not limited to its fishing boats.

But those federal visitors should be forewarned that, while any response may well include economic aid, the outrageous regulatory and enforcement actions on the part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — particularly since the agency was hijacked by chief administrator Jane Lubchenco and the catch-share policy maestros at the Environmental Defense Fund — are not matters that will go away simply by throwing more government money at them.

As we've often noted, fishermen and the waterfront businesses of Gloucester and other ports don't even want government handouts. They simply want to run carry out their businesses without being unfairly targeted for bogus violations and excessive fines — and without being barred access to legitimate seafood resources based on NOAA's supposed "scientific" data that's been proven wrong time and time again.

Gloucester's and New England's fishermen are indeed entitled to cash — especially in reparations from past class of wrongful prosecution and penalties, as clearly documented by the Inspector General's office.

But any federal response to the economic plight of Gloucester, New Bedford and other ports must include demands for regulatory reform and a path away from NOAA's current corrupted enforcement practices, or the good folks from the EDA needn't bother to make the trip.

Portable Single Burner

Source: http://www.gloucestertimes.com