Maine fishing groups sue feds

Two Maine-based commercial fishing groups are suing the federal government in hopes of barring herring trawlers from some New England fishing grounds.

Saco-based Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and Port Clyde-based Midcoast Fishermen’s Association have filed suit against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Marine Fisheries Service and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez for not adequately protecting groundfish populations from industrial herring boats, the Mainebiz reported.