Carlos Rafael is serving a nearly four-year prison sentence for evading fishing quotas and smuggling his profits overseas.

NOAA lifts fishing ban on fishermen affected by 'Codfather' violations

UNITED STATES
Saturday, July 21, 2018, 00:40 (GMT + 9)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has approved a deal allowing fishermen who worked for the New Bedford fishing magnate known as ‘The Codfather’ to return to work after a federal ban grounded their vessels for months.

Through the arrangement, these fishermen will be allowed to reconcile more than 700,000 pounds of fish Carlos Rafael mis-reported between 2012 and 2015, The Associated Press informed.

NOAA granted the approval for lease-only operation plans for Sector IX and allocated quota for Sector VII.

The approval will be in place immediately as NOAA waived the comment period and delay period.

“Continuing to withhold this amount of quota from the fishery significantly hampers the ability of the fishery as a whole to operate,” NOAA said in the 17-page document.

Rafael, the owner of one of the nation's largest commercial fishing operations, is serving a nearly four-year prison sentence for evading fishing quotas and smuggling his profits overseas.

The New Bedford Standard-Times reports some 80 fishermen have been unable to fish since the groundfishing ban was imposed last November.

US Senator Ed Markey and other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation who had called for ending the ban praised this decision.

Related articles:

- NOAA shuts down Codfather’s fishing group
- Codfather to forfeit USD 2.59 million and surrender 34 groundfish permits
- 'Codfather' seafood mogul pleads guilty in fish scam

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