As frequently as the federal government is criticized for regulations that make it harder to keep groundfish vessels operating in the black, it is disappointing that it was state regulations that failed fishermen last week.
One of the local boat owners that saw hoped-for profits disappear — a result of the necessary and justifiable decision to flee foul weather and seek safe harbor — offered to trade off fluke quota at the end of the season for the opportunity to land what he had aboard last week. The state wouldn’t allow it, based on different fluke seasons for ports in different states.
Seven vessels fishing for fluke on North Carolina permits steamed north last week to calmer seas. The Massachusetts fluke season doesn’t start for two more weeks, and regulations prevented landing fluke in New Bedford for all but the one vessel that had a mechanical issue.
We wrote last week that allowing exceptions for crew injury and mechanical trouble are appropriate, but insufficient. What about fisherman safety, we asked?
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