Contact: Eben BurnhamSnyder, Senator Ed Markey, 2022242742

Senator led Congressional push for vital assistance

 

BOSTON (November 1, 2013) - Senator Edward J. Markey (DMass.) today cheered the decision by the Small Business Administration to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts fishermen who have been hard hit by reductions in catch limits and groundfish stocks. 

 

In September, Senator Markey led his Massachusetts delegation colleagues in asking the agency to back the certification made by Governor Deval Patrick that small businesses in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk counties suffered substantial economic injury as a result of a fishery resource disaster and asked that the SBA enact a plan to provide economic assistance to fishermen through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

 

Below is the statement of Senator Markey:

 

"These loans will help Massachusetts fishermen to keep their businesses afloat as they work to adjust to a perfect storm of events that threatens this vital industry and fishing communities across the Bay State. There is much work to be done to help fishermen in the long term, but these loans are an important shortterm step to help those who are struggling."