Congressman Barney Frank has tentatively scheduled a caucus of East Coast lawmakers for next Thursday to discuss the challenge of modifying the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary federal law governing America's fisheries.
Frank told the Times last week he planned to make a push to bring flexibility into the act in light of decisions by the New England Fishery Management Council to reduce scalloping effort despite the health of the fishery.
"We have a reasonable chance, not quite 50-50," said Frank.
The caucus would be closed to the public, while the participants consider strategies. It could be postponed if Congress recesses beforehand.