"The governor does intend to file an amicus brief in the lawsuit," said Robert Keough, assistant secretary for communications and public affairs in the state's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
"Governor Patrick remains committed to finding a balance between conservation and economic viability in the regulation of ground fishing in Massachusetts," Keough said.
"In the context of strict catch limits, the transition to the catch shares system has been difficult for the Massachusetts fishing fleet, with a significant economic impact," Keough noted.
An e-mailed letter from Peter Baker, manager of Pew Environment Group's New England Fisheries Campaign, had urged the governor to remain uncommitted to the law suit, which alleges Obama administration fishing policies have intentionally displaced small boat owners and given the fishery to the biggest operations.
His text said, in part, that "the governor does not seem to be paying attention to all Massachusetts fishermen, but just to the vocal ones out of the biggest ports of Gloucester and New Bedford."
"There are other fishermen from smaller ports who prefer the new approach," Baker wrote. "They believe that it affords them the possibility of making a living, which they were not able to do under the old system called days-at-sea. These fishermen are making sectors (fishing cooperatives under the catch-share system) work for them."
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.