February 22, 2013 — In a video segment aired on Fox News, New England fishermen offered critical opinions of new catch restrictions set to go into effect on May 1.
The catch reductions include a 77 percent reduction for Gulf of Maine cod, and a 60 percent reduction in flounder.
Richard Burgess, President of Northeast Fishery Sector 3, said that, if the regulations were to go into effect, "the entire fishery between the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, whether it's big boats or small boats, will be entirely put out of business." He added that cod stocks have been known to leave the area before, only to return at a later date.
Burgess concluded the segment with a renewed call for fishery disater relief for the region. "We'd like to see President Obama step in and help this Northeast region with disaster relief immediately, because we've got mennow that have not had paychecks in months," he said.
Watch the full video at Fox News