The Obama Administration has granted fishers in Gloucester and other area ports their wish and opened the way for an emergency boost in the groundfish catch to mitigate economic struggles on regional fishing fleets.
Disclosed by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, the move points to a change for the administration, which for a while avoided talks on a catch increase arguing it would not work under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Before making any changes, however, Locke said he needs more information.
The government will not necessarily increase the number of fish New England fishers can catch – the government has simply said an increase is possible, and this alone has proven cause for celebration. Coastal congressmen, local politicians and industry leaders all worked to get the administration on their side, Gloucester Daily Times reports.
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