NEW BEDFORD, Mass - July 10, 2010 - The Conservation Law Foundation has filed a motion to intervene as a defendant in the lawsuit brought against the U.S. Commerce Department by New Bedford, Gloucester and a large number of fishing industry representatives.  The foundation would join Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco as defendants.

Secretary Locke and Dr. Lubchenco are being defended by Department of Justice lawyers paid by the Federal Government. If this motion is allowed, lawyers paid by the Foundation will join  Justice Department lawyers in opposing the suit.

According the the Conservation Law Foundation's website, donations to the group are "fully tax deductible".  

If the Conservation Law Foundation's motion is successful, it will mean that all of the attorneys opposing the suit will be paid either through tax collections or tax deductions.  The industry and the cities of New Bedford and Gloucester, however, will need to raise dollars that are not tax deductible in order to pursue their claims against the Federal government.

Gloucester is the is the oldest commercial fishing port in United States, historically connected to the fishing and maritime trade since 1623., Fishing remains a vital part of the city's economy.

New Bedford is the nation's largest fishing port measured in terms of the value of catch landed, The poverty rate in New Bedford in 2007 (22.6%) was more than double the Massachusetts average (9.9%) and the city is reliant on fishing -- its most significant industry. 

According to their press office, the Conservation Law Foundation has offices in Brunswick, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Concord, New Hampshire; Providence, Rhode Island and Montpelier, Vermont and an annual budget of $5.9 million.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) have announced their intentions to file amicus briefs in support of the industry position in opposition to Obama Administration policy.

Last month, a national campaign, the American Seafood Defense Fund, was launched to raise funds in support of the lawsuit filed against the federal government by New England's two largest fishing ports - New Bedford and Gloucester, Massachusetts - together with private fishing interests from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and North Carolina.  The Port of New Bedford, through the city's Harbor Development Commission, will manage the fund.

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The intentions of the Conservation Law Foundation to try to become a defendant in the lawsuit were reported by Steve Urbon of the Standard-Times.

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