Federal regulators will reopen part of two fishing areas off the coast of southern New England that have been closed for 20 years to alleviate impacts of quota cuts on fishermen.
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will reopen two sections of the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, south of Nantucket, to give fishermen access to stocks of monkfish, skates and dogfish in the area through the end of the current fishing season.
The station reported NOAA Fisheries had originally proposed reopening sections of three fishing areas but decided to open only two areas after consideration of public comments.