New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Massachusetts State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section and the Massachusetts Environmental Police yesterday conducted surprise inspections of commercial trucks in Gloucester serving the seafood industry.
Four State Troopers, four Environmental Police officers, and an investigator from the National Marine Fisheries Service conducted eight inspections for compliance of seafood and motor carrier regulations. The State Police truck enforcement team found 17 violations and took two trucks out of service. Additionally, Environmental Police officers found untagged shellfish, fish under the legal size limit, and a V-notched lobster, which is prohibited from being harvested. (Per state regulations, commercial fisherman cut a V-notch in the tails of female egg-breeding lobsters to identify them so that if they are caught they can be returned to the ocean.)
State and Environmental Police are planning similar operations in coming months.
