July 23, 2013 — In a sensible attempt at compromise with beleaguered fishermen, the New England Fisheries Management Council and the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently proposed to reopen selected areas of New England waters that have been closed to the groundfish industry since the mid-1990s.
The plan would take effect later this year. It is worth a try.
The industry is reeling from deep cuts to cod and yellowtail flounder quotas, and fishing towns have been pleading for permission to do whatever fishing is possible. To remedy that distress without hurting the region’s fisheries, the agencies say that, by late summer or in the fall, they may allow fishing of haddock, monkfish, skate, and certain other fish stocks that don’t appear to be in danger.
Read the full opinion piece at The Boston Globe