GLOUCESTER – U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., appeared on the Fox Business Network on Thursday, criticizing the catch shares fishing regulations.
In a live interview with Ashley Webster, Frank said that “excessively rigid regulations” of the fishing industry go back “several administrations” and are “not something new.”
“The problem is there is this view on the part of the administration that we would be better off with fewer boats. If it happens naturally that’s one thing, but the government shouldn’t be a force for hurting the smaller people,” he said.
“Fishing has to be regulated, nobody in the fishing industry doubts that. … What the fishermen want is sensible regulation that takes into account a valid notion of how many fish are out there and listens to their expertise,” said Frank.
The Democratic politician repeatedly said he did not want to bring partisan politics into the conversation with Webster when talking about the fishing regulations and later, about unemployment.
