NEW BEDFORD — April 28, 2012 – Fishermen and industry leaders in New Bedford predict that cutting the allowable yellowtail flounder catch by 80 percent will have disastrous effects on the New Bedford groundfish fleet, and they say flawed science, rather than depleted stocks, has created the crisis.
"This is a bigger disaster for New Bedford than the Gulf of Maine cod crisis is for the Gloucester fleet," said Richie Canastra, co-owner of BASE New England, the seafood display auction. "This will close down the sectors, plus the boats that were not fishing and leased out their quota will have to liquidate."
He cited one boat owner who leased 30,000 pounds of yellowtail quota for $1 per pound last year.
"He only got 4,000 pounds this year," Canastra said. "He'd need $10 a pound just to stay in the game."
Yellowtail landings account for roughly 20 percent of groundfish revenue in New Bedford, according to Canastra. Through February this year, more than 1.5 million pounds of yellowtail were landed here, and this year's quota is 565,000 pounds, he said.
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