Gov. Deval Patrick expressed what he called serious concerns Sunday about the new restrictions on scallop harvesting at a Statehouse meeting with John Pappalardo, chairman of the New England Fishery Management Council, and urged reconsideration of the cutbacks.
In a statement, Patrick is described as being disappointed that the matter is not on the council's Jan. 26 agenda and is urging fishery managers to reconsider because of questions surrounding the science behind the decision.
"The governor will continue to press this issue at all levels and is exploring other options to get this decision reversed," governor spokeswoman Kimberly Haberlin said.
Pappalardo could not be reached Sunday night for comment.
The meeting between Patrick and Pappalardo follows a session Friday in New Bedford between Mayor Scott W. Lang, fishing industry representatives, Patrick, Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Bowles during a visit by the governor and his cabinet.
Lang, while pleased with Patrick's expression of his concerns, said Sunday he urged reconsideration when he and Pappalardo spoke Thursday night.
However, the mayor said Pappalardo declined to reconsider the matter, feeling it would be "inappropriate" since the council had already voted on the matter and he did not want to set a precedent.
He said he told Pappalardo that the decision, unless it is reversed, will have "a disastrous impact on the people of New Bedford and the fishing industry."
He called the meeting between Patrick and Pappalardo "a step in the right direction," but also vowed to continue to press the issue.
Haberlin said the Sunday meeting lasted nearly an hour and was also attended by state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles.
Bowles is on record as supporting a reversal of the decision. In a letter to Pappalardo, Bowles said the decision is not based on the best available science and the restrictions would have "dire and unnecessary economic impacts on communities that are already severely stressed."
Read the complete story at the Standard-Times' South Coast Today