February 1, 2013 — Buyers are already looking elsewhere to get the supply of fish they need. And this country doesn’t need more imports of fish.
This is an open letter to NOAA, northeast administrator John Bullard, and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service:
I am still in shock from Wednesday’s meeting.
I don’t know what I am supposed to do? I have a $7,000 boat payment a month, along with insurance, dockage and all the other bills that go on and on, along with all of the domestic bills, college for two boys, house mortgage etc.
I have one of the newest draggers in the fleet, and I am — or was — one of the so-called haves in the whole have and have-not scenario that some fishermen have named us. I have always stuck by the service (NOAA) and understand that they have a very tough job and will never make everyone happy. I fully understand that we need to protect our valuable resource, but with all this, there will not be any fishermen left — or buyers.
I can see it now: buyers are already looking elsewhere to get the supply of fish they need. And this country doesn’t need more imports of fish.
Read the full letter in the Gloucester Times