December 6, 2017 — The New Bedford fishing sector, banned by NOAA from groundfishing for the remainder of this season and possibly beyond because of noncompliance with its own management plan, has issued its rebuttal. And an invitation.
Northeast Fishery Sector IX, accused by NOAA of negligence for allowing Carlos Rafael’s massive illegal misreporting of the scope and nature of his groundfish landings, sent a letter to NOAA Regional Administrator John K. Bullard refuting much of NOAA’s reasoning for the groundfish ban and inviting Bullard to New Bedford to see the changes for himself.
“Sector IX strongly believes that your initial determination was based upon incomplete information and respectfully asks that you reconsider your positions,” Virginia Martins, Sector IX president, wrote Bullard. “This board is willing to reshape the sector for the good of the community and the industry.”
Martins stressed the sector has made “substantial changes in the past six months” by appointing new board members and establishing an enforcement committee.