GLOUCESTER, MA (February 12, 2009) – Ignoring federal regulators’ pleas, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Harrington chose not to reconsider his earlier decision to suspend strict fishing rules originally established in 2006 by the Commerce Department.
While the rule suspension temporarily eases fishing for some along the eastern seaboard, it makes it impossible for others to obtain new leases to fish in federal waters. Officials at the National Marine Fisheries Service are concerned that the suspension of the rules, known as Framework 42, could exacerbate efforts to end overfishing and force them to ratchet the rebuilding of certain fish stocks. Read the Wicked Local Rockport story in full