January 28, 2019 — Many things fell into place Friday that led to the government reopening, including the words of a New Bedford scalloper in the nation’s capital.
Capt. Jack Morris, director of operations for FV Holdings LLC, spoke on a panel conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as the shutdown prevented one of his vessels from fishing.
“We’re bleeding,” Morris said. “We need to go fishing.”
Hours later, President Donald Trump announced a deal had been struck to reopen the government through Feb. 15.
The shutdown didn’t allow Morris to transfer a license from an out-of-service vessel to a new one.
“It’s a simple application that’s done all the time, and it’s sitting on the desk of the permit office in Gloucester,” Morris said. “There’s nobody at that desk. It’s empty.”