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Catch limits threaten business and a way of life for generations in Gloucester, Mass. and all of New England
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-- that the perfect storm surge of cod in the north Atlantic and now new federal regulations deeply cutting the commercial -- harvest.
The very survival of fishing communities is on the line.
And Griff Jenkins has more from the port of Gloucester Massachusetts.
Today people are still numb right now from the -- type a reduction that's been.
Thrown out here.
I can go out there because of 5000 pounds and content that's more than what I'm going to be able to bring in -- You're looking at the implosion of the industry and -- way of life that the border and for 400 years.
It's almost as if there is no one's really contemplated what the what the outcomes going to be.
For over 400 years of England fishermen have been earning a living at -- defeating a nation.
In -- -- that's very better than the folks here off Gloucester Massachusetts.
America's oldest fishing port.
But now new federal regulations set to take effect in May well not only threaten but almost.
Definitely end that way of life they are catch limit restrictions.
In the case of caught 77%.
In the gulf of Maine 60%.
And they'll tell founder and grace Seoul officially -- say that's not enough to pay the bills.
I don't think to a -- months from now you're gonna have very many people in the sport almost to the people on the ground fish fishery believing that this -- any longer.
But -- -- this this cousins.
Vetoed it Gilani is a fisherman all four of his sons are in the business has barely been fishing here in -- since -- turn of the century.
So we're talking about an industry -- Absolutely and industry.
Industry killer fishery killer.
Heritage.
Communities.
The identity of some of these fishing communities can be totally got it you know we've got known.
Environmental changes that have happened in the short term cycle the last couple years that -- changed to catch ability of the fish.
And what we've done is translate that directly into this legal reason to reduce fishing.
When in reality you almost need to increase effort because the -- heart of the -- right now we've created a nonsensical illogical management regime.
And it's coming -- our -- the perfect storm.
A bad circumstances.
Since 2004 this -- is not exceeded the single catch woman that was prescribed by the science.
And so everyone's done what they were supposed to do these -- -- gonna come back whether we shut it down -- we don't shut it down.
Federal officials say the new rules are necessary to protect fish stocks.
John Bullard is the top fishing regulator in the northeast region.
We're having to drastically reduce the amount of fish fishermen and Gloucester and other ports in New England can catch this is not an easy thing to do.
It's a necessary thing to do the near future is gonna have a lot of pain for fishermen and their families is no getting around.
My hope.
But the steps we're taking -- penalty for -- thoughts with us -- your team that can happen.
Fishermen are very good at finding fish and they're not finding cut in the gulf of Maine and just confirmed what the scientists -- -- For more than four generations Alcatel and he's -- he's been fishing off Gloucester for ground fish he's been on the Sabrina Maria here for more than fifteen.
But with the new regulations he says.
Doesn't know what he's going to be right now.
I'm pretty much out of the game.
I've lost since catches that have lost 9% of my -- due to the reduction in the tax so.
It's.
It's it's it's into the game coming what you -- do I have no idea.
Have no idea -- I don't have still state of shock and denial right now -- -- which we have two weeks left the fishing this season because we had to shut down in April.
And -- may first when the new season starts.
Nobody knows -- -- inefficient -- and I just got my allocation last weekend that -- enough fish.
Maybe three weeks official.
That's about it.
The fisherman.
Find themselves.
Facing her mortgage foreclosures home foreclosures.
Richard games writes for the daily Gloucester times in his covered this issue for most of the past decade -- regulations have increased on the fishermen.
They've put everything they have into the economic -- in order to be able to continue fishing -- -- doesn't seem likely that the many of these people are going to be able survive.
A year from now on the boats that they have right now.
Tell -- -- of -- is the captain of the midnight sun.
He is a fifth generation Gloucester fisherman but he says he may be the last.
I don't think there's.
Even -- I -- -- kid I don't think I'm having become official.
Don't -- want you like last much longer.
Don't think we.
People who think government isn't doing enough to help you guys -- I don't -- You know.
If they want to help us -- they would they would be doing what they're doing.
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