NEW BEDFORD, MA (February 4, 2009) – Federal fishing regulators are challenging a federal court order that would temporarily suspend controversial fishing regulations on the grounds that the suspension would create chaos in the fishing industry and undermine efforts to end overfishing and rebuild depleted groundfish stocks, according to court documents.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service filed a motion Monday with the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, requesting that Senior Judge Edward F. Harrington "alter or amend" the order's call to suspend fishing regulations, called Framework 42, while the agency reviews a regulatory guideline, known as the mixed-stock exception.
The agency did not object to the review, which must be completed by March 26.