A high-powered mix of elected officials and representatives of New England's groundfishing fleet, facing what are predicted to be major economic casualties from hard catch limits and a new management regime, are meeting today in Boston with the federal fisheries chief administrator Jane Lubchenco — who remains an advocate of both innovations.
The catch limits and catch share systems are scheduled for implementation in New England beginning May 1.
The closed-door meeting at the Boston fish pier was organized by Sen. John Kerry and fulfills a promise he made to industry members during a private meeting in Washington, D.C. after the mass "United We Fish" demonstration outside the U.S. Capitol last month.
The rally was organized by the Recreational Fishing Alliance and drew at least 5,000 commercial and recreational fishermen to press Congress on the need for legislation to allow flexibility in the catch limit mandate in the 2006 version of the Magnuson Act.