John Bullard is a likable guy. I know him to be an attentive listener and someone who must be applauded for his revitalization efforts through local historic preservation. But over the past five years, as one of five regional fisheries administrators of NOAA, John Bullard has made some wayward decisions, from imposing a moratorium on fishing cod to responding to the Carlos Rafael scam...
NOAA regional administrator John Bullard tells WBSM News that shutting down Sector IX isn't about any kind of sanctions or punitive actions for Carlos Rafael's overfishing scheme, but rather for cleaning up the mess he left behind.
It must be surreal for Mitchell to know his neighbor and predecessor to his position is now his biggest adversary as he tries to stop economic catastrophe for hundreds of New Bedford families, thanks to Bullard.
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell offered his thoughts on the Misty Blue sinking and its missing crew, sharing his own personal story of losing a loved one at sea.
Representatives of the fishermen and others affected by NOAA's decision to halt commercial groundfishing in Sector IX due to the actions of "The Codfather" Carlos Rafael have crafted a letter explaining why they feel the decision was unjust.
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell says as many as 80 fishermen could be affected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's decision to withdraw the operations plan for Sector IX earlier this week and halt all groundfishing in that sector immediately.
The federal government says a group of commercial fishing operations dominated by a magnate known as "The Codfather" will be shut down for the rest of the season.
A Captain with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with helping Carlos Rafael, the owner of one of the largest commercial fishing businesses in the U.S., smuggle the profits of his illegal overfishing scheme to Portugal.