EXCERPT: Arnold Leo, the secretary of the East Hampton Town Baymen’s Association reminded the [NMFS] that federal law required managers to consider the effect of their measures on fishing communities and “to the extent practicable, minimize adverse economic impacts on such communities.” Mr. Leo pointed out that a virtual moratorium already existed on the harvest of winter flounder in New York. “It is simply unreasonable — even punitive — to go from the management measures currently in place to a total ban on groundfishing in a huge area in an effort to get ‘some increase’ in winter flounder.”
EAST HAMPTON, NY (March 19, 2009) – New York’s commercial fishing industry, already reeling from high fuel costs, some of the lowest quotas on the East Coast, and the downturn in the broader economy, is now facing the loss of its groundfish fishery.
In response, East Hampton Town officials are asking other affected towns, as well as state and federal representatives, to encourage the National Marine Fisheries Service to change a policy that otherwise will keep boats tied to the dock beginning May 1.
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