As the first year of New England groundfishing in commodity-based catch share trading draws to a conclusion, the federal fisheries service has announced liberalized catch limits for many stocks in the second year under Amendment 16, which begins May 1.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, slated for nomination to be ambassador to China, made the announcement of the increased catch limits Monday instead of NOAA chief administrator Jane Lubchenco, who has typically made similar announcements since the start of the Obama administration.
Locke who become a lightning rod for industry anger by rejecting pleas from Gov. Deval Patrick for higher catch limits in January, tis time described fishing as "vital to our coastal communities, their economies and the men and women who work on the water to bring heatlhy seafood to our tables."
He said catch limits on 12 of the 20 stocks in the groundfish complex would be higher in fishing year 2011 that begins 11 days from today.
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Times.