The long-building lawsuit brought by Gloucester, New Bedford and a number of fishing interests against the federal government alleges that regulatory Amendment 16, whose catch share management system transformed the groundfishery into a virtual commodities market nearly a year ago, is essentially illegal and unconstitutional.

The change, which encourages the buying, selling and trading of fishermen's allotted catch for various fish stocks, has come at the cost of owner-operator fishing businesses and fleet diversity, while consolidating more resources in the hands of larger boats and corporations, according to a University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth study commissioned by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Oral arguments in the suit are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Boston courtroom of U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel.

Read the complete story in the Gloucester Times