Massachusetts' two biggest fishing ports are teaming up in a federal lawsuit to block the ongoing switch to commercial fisheries sector management and catch shares, Mayor Scott W. Lang announced Friday.
New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang said the lawsuit will aim not only at NOAA's decisions but at the question of whether the agency is violating the terms of the Magnuson-Stevens Act by disregarding the effects of rule-making on the industry and the local economy.
He said fishing is a $1 billion industry in the city, one-quarter of which is fish landings and the rest being shore support and processing.
Lang derided what he called the "disingenuous and fraudulent" behavior of NOAA's top officials. He told the group at the United Fishermen's Club hall about Lubchenco's lack of response to a March 22 letter asking for postponement of sector management until it can be understood and problems worked out.
When that letter went unanswered, a month later Lang sent another, at which point Lubchenco's office told him on April 20 that it had indeed answered him, and faxed him a letter date-stamped April 16.
When that letter arrived in the regular mail, it was postmarked April 20, the day of the conversation, Lang said.
"We are going to court," was his decision at that point, he said.
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