May 11, 2022 — The practice of allowing scallopers to lease out their fishing permits to others is coming under scrutiny by a pair of New Bedford-area legislators.
State Representatives Chris Markey and Bill Straus, who each represent portions of the city, are among the state reps who have written a letter to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker “urging caution regarding the practice of fishing permit leasing,” according to a release.
The letter was also signed by Reps. Antonio Cabral, Chris Hendricks and Paul Schmid.
The release describes permit leasing as “the practice where scallop boats lease out their fishing days to other vessels rather than go out to sea themselves.”