NEW BEDFORD, MA (January 15, 2009) – Local fishermen contend that groundfishing regulations have become so restrictive that the only people who can survive are those who also own scallop fishing permits.
New Bedford boat owner Carlos Rafael says he has been losing money on his 23 draggers for the past three to four years due to regulations that have slashed the number of days fishermen can trawl for groundfish. If not for the revenue generated by his 13 scallopers, Mr. Rafael would have sold his groundfishing permits a long time ago. Read the SouthCoastToday.com story in full