NEWBURYPORT, MA (February 21, 2009) – Fallout from a harsh fine and suspension handed down against one of the region’s most important fishing businesses and punishment of fishermen, including a Newburyport-based boat, is causing shock waves through the fishing community.
The National Marine Fisheries Service has renewed a long-standing and bitter legal campaign against the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction, a battle that is now embroiling local fishermen who bring their catch to the auction.
In a letter dated last Friday, NMFS informed the Ciulla family that founded and owns the auction — an essential shore-side service for the commercial fishing fleet and the linchpin of Gloucester’s marine industrial economy — it was being fined $335,200 and its license suspended for 120 days for a variety of alleged violations of the fishery regulation act.
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