Federal fisheries regulators announced today that they have planned a 10-day shutdown of the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction, the main clearinghouse for fish brought into this historic port.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it had sent the auction a letter notifying it that it cannot buy, possess, or sell federally regulated fish for 10 consecutive days because of violations of buying illegal cod and falsifying records committed in 2000 and 2004.
The letter asks the auction to inform NOAA by June 24 if there is a legal reason why the shutdown shouldn’t take place. If there is no reason, the letter said, the auction has between now and July 13 to begin its 10-day shutdown.