[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAPE COD COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN'S ALLIANCE

 Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, fishing is a way of life on Cape 
Cod. But it is not always smooth sailing. That is why, in 1991, a group 
of Cape Cod fishermen came together to respond to the challenges facing 
the fishing industry in order to protect their way of life. This year, 
the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, as they are now known, is 
celebrating their 25th anniversary of advocating for commercial 
fishermen and protecting their livelihood.
  A few local fishermen created what is now a nationally recognized 
nonprofit organization and leading voice for Cape Cod's commercial 
fishermen. Today the organization represents 400 independent small 
businesses that annually bring in over 12 million pounds of seafood 
worth over $16 million. They are a vital component to the local 
economies of the cape towns, Cape Cod as a whole, and the entire Bay 
State.
  These fishermen have firsthand experience at sea and understand the 
importance of a healthy ocean and fisheries. They have come together 
for 25 years to share their solutions and their successes. The 
Fishermen's Alliance provides an outlet for the knowledge of 
generations of Cape Cod fishermen to be passed to the next generation. 
It provides help for entrepreneurial fishermen who want to use the 
latest business tools to enhance their efficiency and profitability. 
Whether it is loans or lobster, dogfish or data, the Fishermen's 
Alliance provides critical support to the cape's fishing industry today 
and works to ensure that it has a vibrant future for many years to 
come.
  But it is not just about Cape Cod or Massachusetts, the Fishermen's 
Alliance is sharing its success story with other fishing communities, 
too. In 2015, they published a detailed roadmap for starting a permit 
bank based on their experience running loan programs for groundfish and 
scallops. This guide will help local fishermen across the country 
create sustainable and successful businesses in their communities. Just 
as cod from the waters off the cape helped sustain America in its early 
years, the Fishermen's Alliance ideas can help sustain small boat 
fishermen around America.
  The Fishermen's Alliance truly lives up to their slogan: ``Small 
Boats. Big Ideas.'' They are constantly striving for a better tomorrow. 
They have provided my office with valuable insight and perspective for 
many years. Their work to create sustainable fisheries for Cape Cod and 
future generations of fishermen distinguishes them across this great 
Nation and today in the U.S. Senate. I once again congratulate the Cape 
Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance on their 25th anniversary.

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