By: Angelo Ciocca, Nova Seafood
 

My name is Angelo Ciocca, president of Nova Seafood, Portland. I would like to thank the sponsors of LD170 for making this discussion possible.

Nova Seafood is a seafood processor and wholesaler specializing in fresh North Atlantic species. I have been involved in the Maine seafood industry since 1981. Nova has called Portland home since its formation in 1990. From the beginning, Nova has been very dependent on the Portland Fish Exchange for a steady supply of millions of pounds of high quality fish each and every year.

Then came 2006. During 2006, Nova Seafood bought 1,115,000 pounds of fish LESS from the PFE than in 2005. That is a decrease of 44% in one year. In dollar terms, this decrease translates to a revenue loss of more than $2.5 million dollars to Nova, and the corresponding losses in wages, transportation, packaging, taxes, etc.

Most importantly, the lack of a steady flow of product causes our customers, both in and out of state, to turn elsewhere for the fish their customers are demanding. Where do they turn? Where must they turn? To Massachusetts.

As of 2004, statistics show that Massachusetts already has claimed more than 72% of the New England ground fish landings. I believe they have exceeded the 80% mark in 2006, and are fast approaching the 90% mark. The Maine ground fish industry cannot and will not survive with 10, or even 20% of the total New England ground fish landings.

The state cannot allow this to happen. You might ask the question—Why didn’t Nova buy the missing 1.15 million pounds of fish? The answer is that the fish was not available on the floor of the PFE. The PFE shortfall in 2006 vs. 2005 was 7.5 million pounds. Much of this fish ended up in Mass ports, in another buyer’s hands.

Occasionally, buyers in Maine will be offered product second hand, always at higher prices. The time delay in receiving the product from out of state, plus the trucking expense to bring the fish back to Maine, puts us at a huge competitive disadvantage with Mass seafood companies. We need fish to be unloaded at the PFE.

The previous speakers have addressed the fine points of LD170. As you can see, the authors of this bill have incorporated many safeguards for the trap fishermen’s benefit, such as the 40+ mile buffer zone. Of course, the Maine boats will follow the federal regulations of 100 count lobsters per day, with a 500 count maximum per trip.

Under LD170, draggers will land less than 1% of the annual Maine lobster trap fisheries catch. This bill will not damage the Maine lobster fishery at all, but passage of this bill is the ONLY hope for the Maine ground fish industry.

I realize that the trap fishermen are “afraid” of what the draggers will do to their lobsters. I ask you to read the bill again with an open mind, and you will see that neither the inshore or offshore lobster fishery will not be harmed by this bill.

One last bit of information. I am in a very unique situation. I am a 50% owner of an AREA 3 lobster boat, yet I am speaking in favor of LD170. If I had any doubts about what this bill would do to the AREA 3 lobster population, I would not be here today. I support LD170.

Thank you for your time.