The federal government's next-generation fishery regulatory regimen for New England openly acknowledges that social and economic hardship starting with job losses will be among the first effects.
Only later does the document anticipate economic recovery and a brighter future — as in the classic stages of the medical cleansing with distasteful purgatives.
That's raising questions and concern among fishing industry leaders, and from lawmakers like Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, who wonder how the U.S. government can openly push a policy with negative economic impacts for fishing communities like Gloucester.
The New England Fishery Management Council has approved the so-called Amendment 16 catch-share regulatory system to take effect next May 1.