A flotilla of five commercial fishing vessels sailed from New Bedford into Vineyard Haven Harbor Tuesday afternoon to draw attention to issues facing the fishing industry. The draggers, horns blaring, made two slow circles between the harbor breakwater and Tisbury Wharf before departing for Oak Bluffs on their way to offshore fishing grounds.
One of the vessels had a large banner hanging from the side that said, "Catch shares, corporate shares," a reference to a new regulatory framework known as catch shares. Another dragger carried a banner that said, "Fishing families are working families."
Bob Vanasse, executive director of Saving Seafood, an industry newsletter, said the parade of vessels was not a protest. “We are welcoming the President,” he said.
Read the complete story at The Martha’s Vineyard Times
View a photo gallery of the New Bedford flotilla as it shared its message with President Obama