There is an issue of consistency as well in the denials of 

 Massachusetts's requests. The Federal Government was willing in 

 1994 to declare a natural disaster on the West Coast based on El 

 Nino. Our point is that if the logic for a natural disaster declara- 

 tion is appropriate for the West Coast and salmon, then it should 

 be just as appropriate for New England, and especially Massachu- 

 setts and our groundfish. 



If an El Nino can be called a disaster, then so should the ocean 

 conditions and other natural factors affecting groundfish abun- 

 dance off Massachusetts that have created the fishery resource dis- 

 aster we are now confronted with. 



In conclusion, we continue to take every step available to assist 

 the Commonwealth's groundfish fishing industry. I hope you will 

 recognize our efforts and support us by agreeing to help convince 

 the SBA that it should reconsider its decision. 



I thank you on behalf of Governor Weld and Lieutenant Gov- 

 ernor Cellucci for your great leadership on this issue and for giving 

 us the opportunity to make our case today. 



[Mr. Coxe's statement may be found in the appendix.] 



Chairman TORKILDSEN. Thank you, Secretary Coxe. 



I would like to call now on someone who has been a long time 

 friend of the fishing families. He represents all of Cape Ann and 

 many other communities north of Boston, State Senator Bruce 

 Tarr. 



TESTIMONY OF HON. BRUCE TARR, MEMBER, STATE SENATE, 

 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 



Mr. Tarr. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Chairman, let me first say how grateful I am for the oppor- 

 tunity to come before you to testify today, and also for the leader- 

 ship position you are taking not only for the fishing families of the 

 Commonwealth, but for all of our small businesses. I know all of 

 us in Massachusetts are extremely gratified to see your work here. 



I also want to before the Subcommittee this morning commend 

 the work of Governor Weld and Lieutenant Governor Cellucci for 

 fighting every step of the way for the Massachusetts fishing indus- 

 try, and for trying to appeal to the Federal Government for the re- 

 lief that is deserved for the port we serve, the oldest fishing port 

 in the United States of America. 



Mr. Chairman, it is interesting to note that the people we rep- 

 resent in this port are among the hardest-working people in the 

 country. I would defy any member of the Subcommittee or any per- 

 son in the Congress to find a vocation where more than 10,000 peo- 

 ple have died doing what they love. 



Mr. Chairman, as much as those people are survivors, as much 

 as they know how to deal with difficult situations, they are con- 

 fronted today with sudden changes on two fronts that they cannot 

 survive without additional assistance. 



The first is that there are climatological changes taking place, 

 and indeed there are environmental changes taking place. Much of 

 what confuses and confounds the Federal regulators, in fact, is a 

 lack of understanding of what those conditions are. But we do 

 know there are climatological changes which are analogous to El 

 Nino, they are analogous to algal blooms, they are analogous to 



