NEW BEDFORD — Local members of a newly-formed fishing advisory council hope their group can help the greater New Bedford fishing industry survive increasingly Draconian federal regulations.

"We are getting to a point where we can't wait longer. We have to see some kind of relief," said local seafood consultant Jim Kendall, who is on the council. "The fishermen have one scene they see and science is slower and reluctant to agree to that picture. We need to get both groups of people on the same page."

UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, last month announced the formation of the 16-member Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute (MFI) Advisory Council.

Steven Lohrenz, dean of SMAST and co-chair of MFI, said the council brings outside expertise to advise MFI on issues related to fisheries' research, management and education.

"We are really pleased and honored to have such a high-caliber group of people involved," Lohrenz said.

Serving as a national resource, the MFI aims to promote sustainable fisheries by providing timely information needed to protect, conserve, and manage Massachusetts' marine and coastal resources, according to its website.

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