Bred in an environment of widespread disrespect for federal authority and policies, illegal groundfishing in New England is rampant, on the rise and endangers the recovery of the fishery, a newly published scientific study contends.
The academic authors, Dennis M. King and Jon G. Sutinen, characterize a sizeable portion of the fishermen as being on a cynical pillaging of the wild resources, and are recommending more and stronger enforcement including "targeting of frequent violators" and "criminal penalties."
Published Wednesday in the journal Marine Policy, the study, according to King, is intended to be the first chapter in a planned series of four regional reports on fishery law enforcement compliance.
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