Judge Rules With Government On At-Sea Monitors Issue

(Associated Press) - A judge has denied a request from East Coast fishermen to stop the federal government's plan to charge fishermen for the cost of at-sea monitoring.

Fishermen of New England food species such as cod and haddock will have to start paying the cost of at-sea monitors March 1 under new rules. Monitors collect data to help determine future fishing quotas and can cost about $700 per day.

The challenge was the subject of a hearing at U.S. District Court in Concord last week. Judge Joseph Laplante denied the request for an injunction on Wednesday, saying it's barred under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Hampton, New Hampshire-based David Goethel, one of the fishermen in the lawsuit, has said many fishermen won't be able to afford the added cost of monitors. A message to his lawyer wasn't immediately returned Thursday.