Mayor Scott W. Lang said about 30 stakeholders in the case, including representatives of members of Congress, took part in a one-hour conference call Friday afternoon.

They decided, Lang said, to pursue not only a possible appeal but several other angles. "We're going to continue on all fronts, the courts, the inspector general, Congress, and perhaps we'll look toward the GAO (Government Accountability Office) regarding the whole issue of funding and how they use their funds" (at NOAA), Lang said.

"We're going to continue to grind it away," he said. The plaintiffs have 60 days from June 30 to appeal the decision, which held in favor of NOAA fisheries regulators on every count. The cities were stifled in their attempt by Judge Rya Zobel's decision not to allow sworn testimony and instead rely exclusively on NOAA's official record of its decisions to impose catch shares and sector management in the Northeast fishery.

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