January 15, 2013 — The head of a group representing charter fishing boat owners says failure by the U.S. House of Representatives to include aid for New England fishermen in the Superstorm Sandy disaster relief bill could devastate the group’s membership.
“The margin is minimal to begin with,” said Steven James, president of the Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association, adding that fixed costs, such as gas, insurance and maintenance don’t change when the number of fish that can be caught on a charter trip is cut – something that happened last year and that he expects to happen again this year.
Financial aid would help offset the costs of staying in business for the nearly 130 South Shore members of the Stellwagen group, he said.
David Pierce, deputy director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, said that without financial aid, some commercial fishermen in New England could go belly-up, too.
Some groundfish fishermen are seeking permits to catch other species with healthier stocks – scallops, for example, Pierce said.
Read the full story at the Patriot Ledger