The Gloucester Times: By knocking down barriers, bill could help reinvigorate Gloucester fleet

With the wind-swept vista of the nation's oldest fishing seaport on full display behind him, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton on Saturday stood with his feet on the Gloucester waterfront and his eye on the future of the commercial fishing industry.

Moulton was in Gloucester to announce legislation he believes will help rebuild the industry's dwindling workforce by removing training and economic barriers to cultivate a new generation of fishermen.

"Today we're celebrating the industry that is so fundamental to this community and frankly to our entire region," said Moulton while flanked by a cadre of state and city officials. "The piece of legislation that we're announcing today will go toward sustaining that industry into the future by ensuring that young people have a future in the fishing industry."

The legislation, crafted in partnership with U.S. Rep. Don Young of Alaska, is the Young Fishermen's Development Act. The bill, according to its sponsors, is a vehicle for addressing one of the fishing industry's most pressing needs -- building a new generation of fishermen that will take the industry into the future.

The bill is modeled after a similar and successful program initiated by the Department of Agriculture to re-energize the farming industry. It is designed to provide federal grants to local organizations to develop training, education and outreach to attract younger fishermen to help reverse the trend of an aging industry.

The legislation calls for Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, acting through the National Sea Grant office, to establish the program and “make competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiative for young fishermen.”

It would provide instruction on seamanship, navigation, electronics, safety, vessel maintenance, gear, the economics of running a fishing business, and other subjects directly related to the business of commercial fishing.

The education and training programs would be administered on the local level by public or private entities, including fishing cooperatives, community-based organizations, permit banks and institutions of higher education.

"It's awesome to see someone building up the future of the industry," said Nick Giacalone, one of the owners and operators of Fisherman's Wharf. "With just one good cod assessment, this industry here could really pop."

The grants, according to the legislation, would flow to the administering organizations, who would design and create the programs at the local level. The grants would be limited to three fiscal years, with the grants to the administering organizations not to exceed $200,000 in any fiscal year.

"I've been waiting for this for 20 years," said Angela Sanfilippo, president of the Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association and a board member of the Fishing Partnership Support services organization.

Sanfilippo and Vito Giacalone, executive director of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, said their organizations strongly support the legislation and envision their potential participation as administering organizations.

"No question we're interested," Giacalone said. "We've been planning to do something similar with or without the grants. The reason to have permit banks is to retain the long-term permit access within the port. But what's the sense of having permits if you don't have people that are able to buy boats or start their own fishing businesses?"

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