RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO SEAFOOD MARKETING.
Resolved, That a special commission to consist of 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader, 2 members from the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader, the director of the department of agriculture resources or his designee, the director of the division of marine fisheries or his designee, and 9 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership, 1 of whom shall be a member of a wholesale seafood dealer, 1 of whom shall be a member of a seafood specialty retail business, 2 of whom shall be members of a fishing industry advocacy organization, and 3 of whom shall be members of the commercial fishing industry, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the groundfish industry, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the scallop industry and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the lobster industry, is hereby established for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to establishing a coordinated, generic marketing program for seafood caught in the commonwealth and determining whether such program will enhance and stabilize the economic environment for the commercial fishing industry and fishing communities. The commission shall include, but not be limited to: determining, via an economic analysis, whether a generic seafood marketing program has the potential to enhance the consumer surplus derived from Massachusetts’ seafood catches; exploring the creation of a branded identity for Massachusetts seafood which embraces the historic roots of fishing in the commonwealth; and continuing development of sustainable fishing practices through cooperative research.
Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate who shall forward the same to the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture on or before July 31, 2011.
Approved August 9, 2010.