Tag Archives: Dr. David Pierce

Our View: The state let down fluke fishermen

AR-160119723.jpg&MaxW=650&MaxH=650As 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. Read the op-ed here 07:38

State meets fluke fishermen halfway after barring offload of entire catch

AR-160119723.jpg&MaxW=650&MaxH=650All but one of the seven fishing boats that were barred from offloading their catch of fluke, or summer flounder, earlier this week are back fishing, according to Dr. David Pierce, head of Massachusetts fisheries. After fishing on , four boats from North Carolina and three from New Bedford (two owned by Carlos Rafael and one by Mark Bergeron) sought shelter in New Bedford during strong storms of the past week.  Read the article here 17:17

Regulations bar three boats from unloading catch in New Bedford

AR-160119723.jpg&MaxW=650&MaxH=650Three New Bedford-based fishing boats were barred from unloading their catch in the city Wednesday because the fish were caught on North Carolina quota that cannot be transferred to New Bedford. Two boats owned by Carlos Rafael and one owned by Mark Bergeron of Bergie’s Seafood Inc. of New Bedford idled at the dock while they tried to budge state environmental police, who are following the regulations that say only a vessel breakdown or crew injury qualify a boat to go to an alternative harbor and unload. Read the article here 07:34

New England Fisheries to be Topic of Discussion on Boston’s WHDH Urban Update: Airs Sunday, December 9th at 11:30am

Barnett will be joined by Jon Mitchell, the Mayor of the City of New Bedford; Chris Basile, President of the Boston Fisheries Foundation; Dr. Les Kaufman, Professor of Biology at Boston University and Marine Conservation Fellow at Conservation International; and Dr. David Pierce, Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Urban Update will air at 11:30am on Sunday, December 9th, immediately following Meet the Press.