September 20, 2017 — BOSTON — The conviction of New Bedford fishing mogul Carlos “The Codfather” Rafael was a black stain on the iconic Massachusetts seafaring industry.
But Gov. Charlie Baker is urging restitution that some believe could help turn rotten fish into sushi.
Baker, in a letter to federal fishing regulators late last month, sided with a dozen state lawmakers and local officials who are urging the proceeds from the forfeiture of Rafael’s fishing fleet and any financial penalties tied to his case to be used to pay for electronic catch monitoring.
The money to pay for monitoring would relieve a major financial pressure on the state’s fishermen who have to pay for at-sea monitors who ensure compliance with catch-quotas designed to protect the health of groundfish stock.
“This is the best way to provide some level of restitution to the industry that Mr. Rafael harmed through his crimes. While I recognize that these funds would not cover the entire cost of monitoring, it is our hope that a fully funded program could be developed in the near future,” Baker wrote.
The governor also requested that the groundfish permits associated with the 13 boats Rafael will forfeit as a result of his guilty plea in March be redistributed to eligible permit holders in the Massachusetts fleet. Some from neighboring coastal states have advocated for the permits to be more widely disseminated.
Read the full story from State House News Service at the Gloucester Times