NOAA Administrator Katheryn Sullivan Visits New Bedford

The chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was in New Bedford Tuesday, meeting with fishermen, touring the port, and visiting the UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology.

At SMAST, Administrator Kathryn Sullivan spoke about possible reasons behind shrinking groundfish stocks. "The conditions in the ocean are changing. Fish are moving to different places, lobsters are migrating at different times. It's a compound challenge," said Sullivan.

Another major concern is onboard observer fees that are kicking in on December 1st, adding $700 dollars per day to the cost of going fishing. Right now, Sullivan is non-committal on the fees. "We will continue to look closely at that. We'll listen closely to constituents here in New Bedford and elsewhere and talk with the Congressional delegation to try and find a constructive path forward."

Mayor Jon Mitchell says Sullivan had a civil but frank discussion with fishermen on Tuesday about observer fees and several other issues.