Issue Position: Fishing Industry

Issue Position

New Hampshire's fishing industry has been a steady source of revenue and jobs in our local economy for over 400 years. However, our state's fishermen and anglers face multiple hurdles -- mostly due to the heavy hand of government -- which prohibit their ability to put food on their families plates at night, keep a local restaurant stocked with freshly caught codfish and bring tourists rushing to the Hampton Seafood Festival.

At the urging of our state's recreational fishermen, I sent a letter to Commerce Department Secretary Penny Pritzker this March requesting the Department alleviate the severe reduction in cod catch limits for recreational anglers and charter boats. It brings me great relief to share with you that just this week, a mere few days before the May 1 fishing season begins, the Commerce Department announced it would implement the revised catch limits.

While I'm happy the Commerce Department implemented this vital rule, I know there's much more that can be done to eliminate the suffocating regulations and rules which continue to burden our state's vital economic engine.

That's why, I also introduced the Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act -- a bipartisan bill with Congressman Bill Keating, whose district includes Cape Cod, to increase the stock of our nation's fisheries by providing grants to research, monitor and manage our state's fisheries.

This bipartisan legislation ensures that key programs which are critical in managing ocean fish populations - and the fishermen and communities that depend on them - will receive increased and sustainable funding.

I will not stop working on behalf of our state's fishermen to ensure that our government is helping -- not hindering -- this industry.

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