DeBrusk has written his fishing memoir, “Codfish, Dogfish, Mermaids and Frank,” with an aim to impart education about the fishing industry, but now he is hoping to formalize the relationship. He formed a group, Friends of South Shore Fisheries, which aims to educate both local residents and local fishermen of issues related the industry.
According to DeBrusk, the group has existed for more than a year, but received official nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service in May. It is told that the current regulations expire in May 2010, and Mirarchi has been one of a number of fishermen pushing for the commercial fishing of ground fish to be regulated through catch-shares, which allows each vessel a percentage of an area’s allowable catch.
DeBrusk opined that Frank has a three-ring binder, five inches think full of regulations. It just goes on and on and on and on and on and on. DeBrusk said that the industry needed restrictions to protect the fishing stock, but that those restrictions need to be smart. He added that restrictions are the need of the hour as some of the stocks need recovery. He asked for intelligent, science-based restrictions.
DeBrusk said that the Friends of South Shore Fisheries has more information to offer than just commenting on fishing regulations. He added that the group wants to help local fishermen establish a brand to better compete with fish that is transported to the South Shore from overseas.
