Massachusetts elected officials have written the country’s commerce chief to complain about scallop fishing regulations passed by the New England Fishery Management Council in November.
The rules, which await approval by federal fisheries regulators, would maintain healthy levels of Atlantic sea scallops by eliminating nine fishing days and one trip into a special access area for permit holders who fish during the 2010 fishing season, which begins March 1.
While ocean advocacy groups such as Environmental Defense support the measures, the fishing industry has argued that the cuts would create an unnecessary economic burden, given that scallop stocks are abundant.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, 18 U.S. congressmen noted their "extreme disappointment" in the council for voting against an industry-supported alternative that had scientific support and would have cost the industry less. The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. John F. Kerry, Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Rep. Barney Frank, all D-Mass., in addition to others.