U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has introduced legislation to make room for New York on the New England Fisheries Management Council, which advises federal regulators and helps set policy for fishing out of Gloucester and throughout the region.
The New York Democrat said he was moved to act by are gulatory decision to bar all catches of winter flounder, a species that represents about 80 percent of groundfish landings by the fleet of about 100 boats based in Long Island ports.
"The rule, as is, will seriously impair the Long Island fishing industry," said Schumer.