April 5, 2012 -"This is just a gimmick," said David Goethel, a three-term member of the New England Fisheries Management Council, which advises the government on policy and regulations.
Regardless of tough regulations in New England to prevent fishing that might harm the habitat — and with even tougher limits on the way — Whole Foods Market, the Texas-based grocery chain that specializes in organic and natural foods, said it will cease to sell fish, such as cod, caught by trawlers.
The move is likely to have little impact on the local economy, because the boats "will take their catch elsewhere," rather than to the Whole Foods processing plant on Parker Street, suggested Monte Rome, owner of Intershell Seafood, a worldwide dealer on Commercial Street.
Rome said he knew of one boat that sold about 250,000 pounds of cod to Whole Foods last year — worth about $7 million. He estimated there are three or four other boats that haul the same.
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