BOSTON — Commercial striped bass fishermen pleaded with state lawmakers Tuesday not to interfere with catch limits, saying it is not the Legislature's place to manage fisheries.
But others who run recreational fishing charter boats argued that if state lawmakers do nothing, striped bass stocks will continue to dwindle and tourists who regularly come to Massachusetts coastal communities such as Gloucester to fish will disappear, hurting local economies.
The two sides spent nearly five hours Tuesday trying to convince lawmakers of their opposing viewpoints during a packed hearing of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, of which Gloucester Democratic Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante sits.
Testifying Tuesday was state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, who said he believed it was a "dangerous path" to bring fishing management issues to the legislative process. Federal agencies are better suited to make decisions around allocation and conservation, he said.
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