Fund-raising has begun in earnest to support the federal lawsuit filed last month on behalf of fishing interests throughout New England and the Middle Atlantic states — all challenging the constitutionality of Amendment 16, the new management system for the New England groundfishery.
The Port of New Bedford through the city's Harbor Development Commission will manage the American Seafood Defense Fund, according to an announcement made Wednesday.
At least "$50,000 to $60,000" will be needed assuming the plaintiffs win at the U.S. District Court level, according to Pamela Lafreniere, a New Bedford lawyer who is co-counseling the lawsuit with Gloucester's Stephen Ouellette.
Lefreniere said the legal defense fund had about half the needed base.
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.