July 25, 2017 — New Hampshire fishermen fighting for their livelihood are now trying to take their case to the nation’s highest court.
Commercial fishermen said they must pay $700 a day for fishing monitors, people who go out with fishermen and collect data.
The government mandate began seven years ago, but the cost was only recently put on the fishermen.
That prompted legal action against the government.
“Basically, we had a ruling that said we were time barred, which means we didn’t appeal within a certain period of time,” said Hampton-based fisherman David Goethel.
Goethel said he believes they did appeal in time, and now wants the U.S. Supreme Court to recognize that.
“What we’re asking for is the court to rule that we deserve a review of the merits of the case,” he said.
The lawsuit is against the U.S. Department of Commerce, which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“NOAA Fisheries doesn’t have taxing authority,” Goethel said. “Only the United States Congress does. That’s the essential merits of the case.”
Goethel said that back in 2010, before the fishing monitors, there were about 100 groundfishermen in New Hampshire. Today, he said, there are only about six.