Nearly 20 fishing vessel gathered at 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.
Richard Canastra, co-owner of the Boston and New Bedford Seafood Display and Auction, said that they are hoping Obama administration is bringing this to his attention. The whole thing comes down to jobs only. The protesters were armed with huge signs and flags expressing their outrage over the Obama administration’s fishing regulations.
The main aim of the protest is 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.
