December 13, 2013 — Already declared a federally recognized economic disaster in September 2012, the Gloucester fleet and the Northeast groundfishery virtually collapsed in 2013 under the weight of tight federal cuts in allowable catch limits.
It was an escalating crisis everyone saw coming, yet one that nobody ever stepped up to stop.
Already declared a federally recognized economic disaster in September 2012, the Gloucester fleet and the Northeast groundfishery virtually collapsed in 2013 under the weight of tight federal cuts in allowable catch limits. And that ongoing saga — which this year included longtime fishermen selling their boats and/or homes, and other waterfront businesses seeking relief — has been chosen as the year’s No. 1 local story in voting by the staff of the Gloucester Daily Times and gloucestertimes.com.
The collapse of the fishing industry, which is still playing out at year’s end amid efforts to seek federal aid for the industry and transitional projects for Gloucester’s waterfront, edged out the city’s advancement of plans to build a new West Parish School and its contentious solution for housing West Parish’s students during at least two years of construction and other lively local news stories.
And those top two stories aren’t the only ones that continue to pose significant challenges for local officials and residents alike heading into 2014. In fact, more than anything else, 2013 may be remembered as a year of challenges, from a contentious Gloucester mayoral race that ultimately brought a fourth term for Mayor Carolyn Kirk, to the city’s and community’s stepping up to meet the challenge of funding and open a “renewed” Newell Stadium at Gloucester High School.
Here, in summary, is a look back at the Times’ selections as Cape Ann’s top stories of 2013.
1. Fishing industry’s collapse: Fresh from the Department of Commerce “economic disaster” declaration in September 2012, there were hopes for federal aid, and then a belief that NOAA Northeast Administrator John Bullard might simply extend interim 2012 limits that, while cutting the allowable landings by 22 percent, left fishermen viable.
Read the full story from the Gloucester Daily Times