May 8, 2017 — The line of organizations with their eyes focused on the future of Carlos Rafael’s fishing permits continued to grow Friday.
The Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council addressed a letter to John K. Bullard, NOAA’s regional director from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as well as U.S. Attorney William Weinreb that urged the two men “to allocate the fishing permits now controlled by Carlos Rafael to the New Bedford area.”
“We sent a letter basically because of the fishing industry in New Bedford,” Cynthia Rodrigues, president of the council said. “(The permits landing elsewhere) will hurt the fishing in New Bedford.”
Bullard said he couldn’t comment on matters under litigation but saw no issues with parties announcing their opinions on the matter.
“I think it is perfectly fine for people to weigh in on what they think should happen in this case. It is a significant case and many people have been impacted,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with people letting us know how they feel about this case or what they think the government should do. That is perfectly appropriate at any time. But the case is under litigation.”