NEW: Sen. Brown Asks Whole Foods to Reconsider Which Fish it Sells

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Monday, April 23, 2012

GoLocalWorcester News Team

U.S. Senator Scott Brown

U.S. Senator Scott Brown has sent a letter to the co-CEO’s of Whole Foods, asking them to reconsider a decision to not sell seafood they do not consider sustainable.

The grocery chain has added to its list of fish it will not sell, causing outrage amongst fishermen throughout New England. Gray sole and skate, two common catches in the region, will no longer be sold by Whole Foods, and Atlantic cod will only be sold if it is not caught by trawlers which drag nets along the ocean floor.

While Whole Foods insists its decision was made with overfishing in mind, Sen. Brown thinks that it may have been a political choice.

“I'm concerned that your decision has more to do with political correctness than with sound reasoning,” Sen. Brown said in the letter. “Aside from being based on uncertain science, this decision will hurt Massachusetts fishermen and their families at a time when they are already struggling to survive under onerous government regulations.”

Sen. Brown wrote the letter to Whole Foods co-CEO’s John Macket and Walter Robb. While the Senator agreed that overfishing was a problem, he pointed to progress being made in the region and the stringent rules already placed upon New England fishermen.

“American fishermen operate under some the strictest management rules in the world, Sen. Brown said. “They are already limited by uncertain and inexact science by the federal agency in charge of regulating the industry. I am deeply troubled that you apparently made this decision without taking into consideration the impact it would have on the fishermen and their families that I represent, and I urge you to reconsider.”