Plans to allow scallopers to lease out their fishing permits to others have been criticized by South Coast legislators, including Dartmouth State. Rep. Chris Markey.

In a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker dated May 6, the representatives wrote that they are “urging caution regarding the practice of fishing permit leasing” — the practice where scallop boats lease out their fishing days to other vessels rather than go out to sea themselves. 

The letter was also signed by Reps. Antonio Cabral, Chris Hendricks, Paul Schmid, and Bill Straus.

Current regulations limit one permit per vessel. The state plan, from the New England Fishery Management Council, could allow fishermen to extend those leases and time at sea.

According to the legislators, this proposed change has “traditionally been advocated by large vertically integrated companies who are often owned by out-of-state stakeholders.”

The concern, they wrote, is that the governor’s plan would “dramatically change” the future of the scallop industry by negatively impacting smaller family-owned businesses that operate out of the Port of New Bedford.

“The New Bedford fishing industry not only [has] historical roots in this city but a major contemporary impact  on the economy and way of life in our community,” Markey said. “Fishing permit leasing is a system that will only serve large companies and out-of-state interests. It is essential that we continue to support the local fishing operations in the New Bedford fleet.” 

The South Coast legislators instead urge the state to reopen and allow fishing in the “Northern Edge” zone located in the Gulf of Maine. The spot has been closed since the 1990s.

According to the legislators, opening this spot would “open prime areas for commercial access to scalloping and bring certain economic benefit to our port in the tens of millions of dollars.”

“Our successful scallop fishery in New Bedford is no accident,” the letter read. “A risky change in practice, on behalf of only some in the fleet, is not the broader interest of which we look for your support.”

A copy of the letter sent to Gov. Charlie Baker is attached to this story.