BOSTON — Two dozen legislators have written Congressional leaders to ask for $100 million in disaster relief funding to help the Northeast’s fishing industry survive coming cuts.
The letter dated Monday was signed by congressmen and senators from around the region, and follows last week’s federal declaration of a commercial fishery failure in the Northeast.
The declaration opens up the possibility of significant federal aid, but doesn’t guarantee it.
In the letter, lawmakers noted fishermen are facing massive cuts in their catch limits in 2013 – over 70 percent in some species. They added the fishermen aren’t to blame for the struggling stocks because they’ve followed rules to stop overfishing.
They said the aid is needed to preserve the industry, and asked it be directed toward areas such as fishery science, economic development and for industry expenses.
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