December 13, 2013 โ Already declared a federally recognized economic disaster in September 2012, the Gloucester fleet and the Northeast groundfishery virtually collapsed in 2013 under the weight of tight federal cuts in allowable catch limits.
It was an escalating crisis everyone saw coming, yet one that nobody ever stepped up to stop.
Already declared a federally recognized economic disaster in September 2012, the Gloucester fleet and the Northeast groundfishery virtually collapsed in 2013 under the weight of tight federal cuts in allowable catch limits. And that ongoing saga โ which this year included longtime fishermen selling their boats and/or homes, and other waterfront businesses seeking relief โ has been chosen as the yearโs No. 1 local story in voting by the staff of the Gloucester Daily Times and gloucestertimes.com.
The collapse of the fishing industry, which is still playing out at yearโs end amid efforts to seek federal aid for the industry and transitional projects for Gloucesterโs waterfront, edged out the cityโs advancement of plans to build a new West Parish School and its contentious solution for housing West Parishโs students during at least two years of construction and other lively local news stories.
And those top two stories arenโt the only ones that continue to pose significant challenges for local officials and residents alike heading into 2014. In fact, more than anything else, 2013 may be remembered as a year of challenges, from a contentious Gloucester mayoral race that ultimately brought a fourth term for Mayor Carolyn Kirk, to the cityโs and communityโs stepping up to meet the challenge of funding and open a โrenewedโ Newell Stadium at Gloucester High School.
Here, in summary, is a look back at the Timesโ selections as Cape Annโs top stories of 2013.
1. Fishing industryโs collapse: Fresh from the Department of Commerce โeconomic disasterโ declaration in September 2012, there were hopes for federal aid, and then a belief that NOAA Northeast Administrator John Bullard might simply extend interim 2012 limits that, while cutting the allowable landings by 22 percent, left fishermen viable.
Read the full story from the Gloucester Daily Times