The ground fish regulations that went into effect May 1 remain the number one controversial topic, in an industry that gets more controversial daily.
For as long as the federal agency has been trying to manage marine fisheries, fishermen, scientists, environmentalists and others have been critical of federal practices and policy.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the run up to the May 1 deadline, an army of litigants has gathered around the National Marine Fisheries Service fortress in Gloucester. Towns, states, politicians, and fishing organizations are filing suit against NMFS.
Fisheries scientist Dr. Brian Rothshield has been calling for the dissolution of the management council system as it exists. He set it up 30 years ago. Rothshield was in Washington the last week of April trying to convince congress to make changes to the fisheries bill they were voting on.
Read the complete editorial at Fishermen's Voice.