New Bedford Mayor Says Rafael Represented 75% of their Groundfish Landings; Pleads to Keep Permits
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] June 21, 2017
The Mayor of New Bedford, Jon Mitchel, has appealed to Commerce Secretary Ross to prevent Carlos Rafael’s groundfish permits from leaving New Bedford.
In a letter, (linked here), Mitchel says that "Rafael's business directly employed hundreds of individuals, including 285 fishermen, many of whom would lose their jobs if his groundfish permits were revoked or auctioned off to others outside New Bedford. His business also supports a sprawling supply chain in the port that includes gear menders and manufacturers, fuel companies, vessel outfitters, settlement houses, welders, lumpers, ice houses, truckers, and many others. Some of these businesses rely heavily on Rafael's boats."
"For example, approximately seventy percent of the fuel supplied to fishing vessel
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