Last year, Matthews lost his scallop permit when the National Marine Fisheries Service scaled back permits to reduce the harvest.
"They did it based on history. They look at who’s been scalloping the longest. Back in 1994, I didn’t land anything (scallops), so I lost my permit," he said, pawing the fish schmutz out of his gray beard. "I can survive on fluke, but that’s about all. I can’t make any money. So I won’t be able to pull my boat this year."
A trawler should come out of the water every two years to have its hull scraped, repaired, and repainted. Matthews’ boat is due, but it will have to wait.
"If I still had scallops, I’d be all right," he said. "The scallop guys do all right."
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