FAIRHAVEN — Fishing boat owner Carlos Rafael warned the New England Fishery Management Council on Friday that it would be "a cold day in hell" when he surrendered any of his fishing permits.
Regulators are considering regulations to address concerns that excessive amounts of fishing quota will be controlled by just a few individuals or corporations.
"These are the things that people are afraid of right now," said council member Dave Preble, although he said "there is no clear evidence to show that excessive consolidation." Preble chaired a public meeting at Fairhaven's Seaport Inn on Friday before a small but generally skeptical audience. State Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral attended as an observer.
A series of such meetings is being held in New England ports to gauge local reaction to the proposal.
Read the complete story from The Standard-Times