ANNAPOLIS (March 30, 2010) — Maryland fishermen say new federal regulations on sea scallops benefit large fishing companies in New England — and put small boats out of business.
Last year, about 40 scallop boats worked out of Ocean City each day, said fisherman David Tedford. Now, with regulations restricting most of them to a few days of fishing per year, there is only one boat left. And the out-of-work fishermen are struggling.
Lawrence Murphy of Tilghman Island said he has already lost his home. He had invested thousands of dollars in a boat and fishing history, only to find out the permit he received would allow him to fish two days a year.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service says the new regulations are designed to protect the scallop population. But Tedford says it is about managing fishermen, not managing fisheries.