Protesters head to sea over Obama administration?s fishing regulations
By O?Ryan Johnson
Thursday, August 26, 2010 - Updated 5 minutes ago
ABOARD THE FISHING TRAWLER BULLDOG - Around noon, at least 20 fishing vessels began circling Vineyard Haven?s harbor, blasting their air horns and displaying banners to protest President Obama?s restrictions on commercial fishing that they say threaten their livelihood.
Two U.S. Coast Guard Zodiac boats intercepted the flotilla of protesters minutes out from the president?s vacation paradise, but were keeping their distance and have so far made no attempt to stop the fishermen either physically or by radio.
But there was no sign along the sunsplashed holiday coast - other than the contingent of Coasties - that the president or the federal government had taken any notice of the protest. On a handful of pleasure boats out on a sunny day, however, civilian boaters gave the thumbs-up sign, waved and blew their air horns. The White House referred comment to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the fisheries, where a spokesperson could not be immediately reached.
?We?re hoping we let him know we?re in dire straits,? said Richard Canastra, co-owner of the Boston and New Bedford Seafood Display and Auction. ?We?re hoping his administration is bringing this to his attention. The whole thing comes down to jobs, jobs, jobs.?
The protesters were armed with huge signs and flags expressing their outrage over the Obama administration?s fishing regulations.
One sign read: ?Fishing families are working families.?
Other fishermen were waving ?Don?t tread on me? flags, the Revolutionary War banner that has been adopted by the anti-tax, anti-big government Tea Party movement.
But there were indications the fishermen were having trouble getting their message across. On shore, the protest drew small pockets of gawkers who wondered out loud what the hubbub was about.
?We?re steaming to Martha?s Vineyard to attempt to raise some awareness with the president while he?s 25 miles south of the most profitable port in the country to raise concerns about the fact that everyone is angry with (setting fishing limits),? Robert Vanasse, executive director of Saving Seafood, said as the flotilla got underway from New Bedford.
The flotilla was expected to include 15 large vessels out of New Bedford, with still more joining up from ports in Gloucester, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, according to Tina Jackson of the American Alliance of Fishermen.
The protesters have already reeled in a couple of big fish: in the last few days, both Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and Democrat John Kerry have spoken out in support of the fishermen.
?I have no problem with (Obama) protecting species that need to be protected,? Brown said. ?But there?s been very little flexibility with (regulators) when they get new information that they?re wrong.?
By O?Ryan Johnson
Thursday, August 26, 2010 - Updated 5 minutes ago
ABOARD THE FISHING TRAWLER BULLDOG - Around noon, at least 20 fishing vessels began circling Vineyard Haven?s harbor, blasting their air horns and displaying banners to protest President Obama?s restrictions on commercial fishing that they say threaten their livelihood.
Two U.S. Coast Guard Zodiac boats intercepted the flotilla of protesters minutes out from the president?s vacation paradise, but were keeping their distance and have so far made no attempt to stop the fishermen either physically or by radio.
But there was no sign along the sunsplashed holiday coast - other than the contingent of Coasties - that the president or the federal government had taken any notice of the protest. On a handful of pleasure boats out on a sunny day, however, civilian boaters gave the thumbs-up sign, waved and blew their air horns. The White House referred comment to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the fisheries, where a spokesperson could not be immediately reached.
?We?re hoping we let him know we?re in dire straits,? said Richard Canastra, co-owner of the Boston and New Bedford Seafood Display and Auction. ?We?re hoping his administration is bringing this to his attention. The whole thing comes down to jobs, jobs, jobs.?
The protesters were armed with huge signs and flags expressing their outrage over the Obama administration?s fishing regulations.
One sign read: ?Fishing families are working families.?
Other fishermen were waving ?Don?t tread on me? flags, the Revolutionary War banner that has been adopted by the anti-tax, anti-big government Tea Party movement.
But there were indications the fishermen were having trouble getting their message across. On shore, the protest drew small pockets of gawkers who wondered out loud what the hubbub was about.
?We?re steaming to Martha?s Vineyard to attempt to raise some awareness with the president while he?s 25 miles south of the most profitable port in the country to raise concerns about the fact that everyone is angry with (setting fishing limits),? Robert Vanasse, executive director of Saving Seafood, said as the flotilla got underway from New Bedford.
The flotilla was expected to include 15 large vessels out of New Bedford, with still more joining up from ports in Gloucester, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, according to Tina Jackson of the American Alliance of Fishermen.
The protesters have already reeled in a couple of big fish: in the last few days, both Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and Democrat John Kerry have spoken out in support of the fishermen.
?I have no problem with (Obama) protecting species that need to be protected,? Brown said. ?But there?s been very little flexibility with (regulators) when they get new information that they?re wrong.?
