NEW BEDFORD — Representatives of a green group, regarded with suspicion by many in the fishing industry, came to New Bedford Friday with an offer of support for commercial fishermen still struggling to adapt to the quota system of fishery management.
In a meeting with The Standard-Times editorial board, Johanna Thomas, regional director for the Environmental Defense Fund's Oceans Program on the East Coast, said her organization wants New Bedford groundfishermen to succeed and stay in business.
EDF's advocacy for the catch share system now governing the groundfishery in New England has convinced many in the industry that the EDF agenda is hostile to commercial fishing. Thomas said that is a perception she wants to change.
EDF scientist Jake Kritzer is already working with UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology to study the role closed areas play in the management of fish stocks and EDF wants to do more.
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