Tag Archives: Sen. Bruce Tarr
Massachusetts weighs relief fund to the lobster industry
Lawmakers want to create a new fund to help commercial lobstermen whose livelihoods are being impacted by state and federal regulations aimed at protecting critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. An amendment added to the Senate version of the $49.7 billion state budget, approved Thursday, May 26, would set up a lobstering closure mitigation fund through the state’s unemployment system with at least $12 million in initial funding. The amendment was co-sponsored by Sens. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, and Patrick O’Connor, R-Weymouth, who say the move will provide “much needed relief” for the lobster industry. “It is absolutely critical that we provide relief to the people in this industry which is so important to the commonwealth,” Tarr said. “As the second largest provider of lobster in the nation these workers are needed for another day, another year, and another generation.” >click to read< 08:03
Letter: Time to change bycatch policy
This letter concerns Oct. 12 article about fishing bycatch (”Fishing rules don’t match industry realities”). Thank God for state Sen. Bruce Tarr’s comments that fishermen shouldn’t be dumping cod overboard to die in order for them to get to the fish they can keep. “The rules don’t reflect the practical reality of the groundfishing,” Tarr said.,,, I thought that Edward Barrett of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership had two good points in the Oct. 12 article. by Sue Waller, >click to read< 07:29
Bruce Tarr: Ground Fishing rules don’t match industry realities – >click to read<
Bruce Tarr: Ground Fishing rules don’t match industry realities
The federal government on Wednesday released data showing that cod stocks in the area remain overfished and are not on target to be rebuilt by 2024. “Abundance is very low, not the way it used to be, so that’s obviously of great concern to us,” said Division of Marine Fisheries Director David Pierce,,, Calling the report “concerning,” Sen. Bruce Tarr, “I’m still reading through the details but I think it points to the fact that we should be doing things differently than we are today.” Tarr said there’s “too much regulatory discard” of cod “and there’s mortality that’s being caused by a set of rules that don’t recognize the practical reality of groundfishing.” >click to read< 19:32
Mass. Senate approves lobster processing bill
The state Senate on Thursday approved legislation allowing the processing and sale of frozen, in-shell lobster parts in the state. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, updates a 1997 law that prohibits wholesalers in Massachusetts from selling frozen, shell-on lobster tails in the state. The law was intended to curb mutilations of undersized lobsters. Supporters including the Massachusetts Lobster Association say lifting the restrictions will give the lobster industry a boost by opening markets and helping develop a viable local processing market. Read the article here 10:07
Fishing fund hires ex-AG for probe
Former state Attorney General Scott Harshbarger is under contract to — and has already begun an assessment of — the “governance,
policies and operations” of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, the locally-based nonprofit corporation announced.
Fund President Vito Giacalone declined comment Wednesday, a day after the fund announced the hiring of Harshbarger
who agreed to take on the task last month, the former attorney general said in a telephone interview. Instead,
Giacalone referred questions to the fund’s newly hired spokesman, David Guarino.
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x550074880/Fishing-fund-hires-ex-AG-for-probe
