Quote:
|
Why the hell were they out there in 11ft seas?
|
From first hand reports on the dock this morning, wave height was more like 18-22 ft. Why were they out there? The reason is this: NMFS has opend a area previously closed to scalloping called the Nantucket Lightship Area. In order to fish in this area you have to give up 10 days [I THINK, May be more or less] to fish, and then you are allowed to take 18,000 lbs and then you have to leave. You are allowed to go into this are 3 times and thats it. Once you enter the area, you loose the days, and you cross one of your trips off. So this boat had started fishing, and the hevay winds/seas came up with very little notice. If they left the area they would have given up the days and the trip without making any money (18,000 lbs x $6.50 = $117,000 - ~$27,000 expenses = $90,000). That much of a loss could break a scallopers season.
This is a picture of a boat that we landed last year when temperatures where like they were yesterday. I would immagine that the Northern Edge may have looked something like this as well.