Sen. Bob Duff, Sen. Carlo Leone and local fishermen held a press conference at Darien Seafood Market on Monday to explain how legislation passed earlier this month will work toward restoring Long Island Sound's lobster population and, in turn, revive the lobster industry.
Duff and Leone hope to save what was once a thriving $100 million lobster fishery in Connecticut by curtailing the use of pesticides. As recently as the 1990s, the lobster industry supported about about 1,200 workers, according to a release from Duff's office, but since the population of lobsters waned dramatically, as few as 15-20 lobstermen remain in business and the industry has shrunk over 90%.
Sen. Duff, who recently blogged on Patch about the decimated lobster population and the correlation to the pesticides in Long Island Sound, led the passage of new legislation. Duff, along with Sen. Carlo Leone, used the opportunity on Monday to describe their bill, as well as its importance to the shoreline's economy and the environment.
State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk, Darien); Senator Carlo Leone (D-Stamford, Darien); State Rep. Terry Backer (D-Stratford); Rep. Craig Miner (R-Litchfield); Roger Frate, owner of the Darien Seafood Market and President of the West End Long Island Sound Lobster Association; and local lobstermen Tony Carlo and Mike Kalaman were expected to attend the press conference on Monday.
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