In a rare reversal of what was to have been a final decision, the New England Fishery Management Council on Wednesday rescinded its November decision and restored fishing days to the scallop fleet in the Northeast.
The contentious, 10-5 vote with two abstentions was made in a hotel ballroom packed with about 200 people, mostly fishermen from New Jersey to Maine and their supporters. Environmentalists on the council and from the audience derided the entire process, the media and politicians.
Council fishing analyst Dierdre Boelke made a lengthy PowerPoint presentation about the scientific basis for the staff's recommendations and defending the more conservative limits, but by mid-morning there was little doubt in the room about the outcome.
Read the complete story at The South Coast Today [subscription]
Note: The Standard-Times is a subscription site. Unregistered visitors are able to read three stories per month, and registered visitors may view ten. For unlimited access, please follow the subscription instructions on the site.