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The National Marine Fisheries Service reported that 1994 

 landings in Massachusetts saw an 18% drop, the highest of any state 

 in New England. In fact, for the first time in recent memory, the 

 Commonwealth lost its position as the top revenue -producing state 

 in the region. 



The severity and magnitude of, the Commonwealth's fishing 

 crisis is such that an effective response is beyond the 

 capabilities of one state alone, and supplemental federal 

 assistance is necessary. The Federal Boat Buyback Program is an 

 example of the need faced by the fishing industry in our state. 

 Nine of the 13 vessels purchased by the federal government were 

 Massachusetts boats, employing Massachusetts fishermen. It is also 

 true that Federal Fisheries Relief Program provided Massachusetts 

 with $6.5 million. The fact is that these funds are nearly 

 exhausted. In contrast, other states in the region have only 

 recently started to use these relief funds. 



The Weld-Cellucci Administration itself has gone to 

 extraordinary lengths to support our fishing industry. We have 

 supported $ 5 million in funding for a vessel refitting loan fund 

 in a state bond bill that authorizes funding for revitalization of 

 the state's seaports. We are working to assist hundreds of 

 individuals through retraining programs and crisis counseling at 

 three family assistance centers. We continue to promote use of 

 non-traditional species through new state marketing programs and 

 the development of improved fishing gear through conservation 

 engineering that will enable fishermen to fish for other species 

 without catching groundfish in need of conservation. 



More is needed. What the SBA is uniquely able to provide is 

 an emergency working capital loan program to sustain fishermen 

 through this difficult period. And that is why we come today to 

 seek your help. 



The severe economic loss caused by the collapse of groundfish 

 stocks is a "natural disaster." In all of its submissions to FEMA 

 and SBA, we have provided compelling scientific arguments 

 describing the natural disaster aspects of the Commonwealth's 

 fishing crisis. 



The SBA, like FEMA before it, stated our fishery situation is 

 not a disaster. It will not examine the New England groundfish 

 collapse with an open mind and an understanding that overfishing of 

 groundfish could easily have been the inevitable result of 

 continued failed recruitment and fewer fish caused by the many 

 natural factors we have described. 



SBA has echoed the views of FEMA by claiming in its letter of 

 rejection that Massachusetts' request was based on the decrease in 



