SavingSeaFood - Gloucester stands by fishing suit appeal

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Gloucester stands by fishing suit appeal

The formal appeals from fishing industry plaintiffs seeking to overturn a federal judge's June ruling upholding the framework for the controversial catch share management system are due and expected Wednesday in the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals.

The hub port cities of Gloucester and New Bedford remain as lead plaintiffs, which also include boat- and shore-based businesses ranging along the East Coast from Maine to North Carolina.

In response to questions by the Times, Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Monday she recently considered dropping the city from the coalition appealing U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel's July dismissal of the lawsuit targeting the regulatory framework known as Amendment 16.

Kirk said she was moved to reconsider the city's involvement in the suit by a letter signed by 109 commercial fishermen, including about two dozen whose boats are based in Gloucester, that was emailed last month to members of the congressional delegation and the New England Fishery Management Council.

Read the complete story by Richard Gaines in The Gloucester Times

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