If seven New England senators are serious about their pledge to block impending fishing regulations that would be even more draconian than the ones now in place, they need to get busy — fast.
According to Maine’s U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, Massachusetts’ U.S. Sen. John Kerry is, "doing all he can to fight this rule," with legislation that would block the Interim Rule from taking effect as NMFS wants, but she said that fight won’t be visible because the legislative process, "is by nature a behind-the-scenes process."
According to a spokeswoman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, the agency hopes to have what is called the Interim Rule in place by April 1, in time to be implemented May 1. Yes, it is due to last only a year, when a new regulatory system is expected to take effect, that year could be devastating for the fishing industry not just in Gloucester, but throughout New England.
It would not only cut the number of fishing days in the Gulf of Maine to 20, it would also bar all but hook fishing along the entire southern coast of New England. That would almost certainly force New Bedford fleet — with larger boats and crews than most of Gloucester’s fleet — up off our coast, and pose further hurdles for Gloucester and Rockport fishermen already dealing with heavy-handed NMFS restrictions and enforcement tactics.
Read the complete opinion piece in the Gloucester Daily Times