GLOUCESTER – Mass. Gov. Deval L. Patrick will back a lawsuit challenging the legality of the new fishing regulatory system, The Gloucester Times reported on Sunday.
The newspaper said that the system encourages less capitalized, independent fishing boats to sell or lease out their quota to stronger competitors. Reports from Gloucester and New Bedford flag at least half of the boats idling while the larger, multi-boat businesses “enjoy unprecedented revenue gains.”
Patrick is set to file an “amicus” legal brief and join a lawsuit – alleging that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration policies have displaced small boat owners – brought by Gloucester and New Bedford.
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