GLOUCESTER, MA (February 21, 2009) – It’s not often, thankfully, our federal government makes a declaration of war. Yet we now have a case of a rogue police agency within our own government issuing what amounts to a declaration of war that can effectively wipe out one of our own industries and a way of life right here in our own community.
So it is imperative for our local and state leaders as well as our congressional representatives to stand united to fight the out-and-out assault by the National Marine Fisheries Service on the fishing industry.
The assault is National Marine Fisheries’ "notice of violation" sent last week to the Gloucester Seafood Auction. It was sent, in NMFS’ typically heavy-handed fashion, without any "discovery" evidence, without any prior notice or hearing, and without any immediate route to challenge outside its own jurisdiction. And if you think terming it a declaration of war is too harsh, consider how it is being carried out, and what it means.
Read the Gloucester Times Story in full