WAKEFIELD, Mass. (AP) — December 21, 2012 — Five areas of ocean long closed to certain kinds of fishing may now be reopened after a vote by New England regulators.
The decision Thursday by the New England Fishery Management Council allows sectors of groundfishermen to ask federal regulators for permission to fish parts of the areas.
The Northeast's top federal regulator, John Bullard, has expressed strong support for allowing the access, though he says there needs to be protection for weak fish stocks and fish habitat.
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