January 19, 2011 – New Bedford's mayor is planning a meeting of the Mayors Fisheries and Oceans Committee to be held Tuesday in Portsmouth, N.H. — a place and time suited for elbowing in on the January meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council.
The council meeting runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Sheraton Harborside in Portsmouth.
The published agenda of the council meeting does not include a spot for discussion of the impasse between the industry and the government, but a spokeswoman for the council said she expects discussion to take place informally.
Meanwhile, New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang said Wednesday he would begin his meeting in the same facility when the official council meeting adjourns, probably about 5:30 p.m.
He and much of the industry are contesting the legality of the regulatory scheme on two fronts — both with policy makers and through the courts, where the cities of Gloucester and New Bedford and fishing interests have filed a federal lawsuit.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.