May 1, 2013 — Fishing season has officially started in New Bedford and across southern New England, but a new government mandate has local fishermen worried about their businesses.
A federal group called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) recently released a study that revealed the declining health of cod, flounder and other key New England fish. That study led to new laws that will restrict the amount of cod fishermen are permitted to catch in certain areas.
The mandate created a 77% reduction in allowed catch in the Gulf of Maine and a 61% cut on the catch limit in George's Bank. Many fishermen believe these changes will force them out of business.
"We're just about wiped out with no fish to catch," said local fisherman Carlos Rafael. "You look around, 50, 60 percent of what's left is going to disappear."
Rafael went on to say that, since catch limits began four years ago, his revenue has nearly dropped in half.
Read the full story and watch the video from WPRI