Analytical indictments of the federal fishery system are now coming fast and furious, with the head of the federal government's fisheries service due in the city Friday as well.
One report, commissioned by and written for the government and made public Monday, took to task the organization, structure, morale and output of the regional agencies that have driven the cities of Gloucester and New Bedford into a federal lawsuit with dozens of businesses up and down the Atlantic Coast.
Decisions of these agencies have also produced a cold political war with a bipartisan congressional coalition — including many key members of the Obama campaign organization.
Now, another indictment, written by a fisheries scientist at the University of Massachusetts, contends in technical language that the agencies together have managed to botch, misunderstand then misuse against the industry the landmark GARM III — or "groundfish assessment review meeting" — of 2009, which became a benchmark for the status of the 19 groundfish stocks in New England waters.
Against this backdrop, Eric Schwaab, top administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, comes to Gloucester City Hall on Friday morning for a public meeting expected to focus on an independent research study that found plenty wrong with a triad of related bodies responsible for regulating commercial fishing.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.