GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) - Hundreds of fishermen from the
Northeast have rallied in Gloucester against what they say are
"unrealistic" regulations and "dysfunctional" management.

Some carried signs that said "Let Fishermen Fish" at the
protest in front of the New England headquarters of the National
Marine Fisheries Service. One man dressed as the grim reaper, with "NMFS" printed on the scythe.

The rally comes as fishermen prepare for a switch to a
"sector" management system, in which groups of fishermen divide and manage an allotted catch. Jay Driscoll of Rye, N.H., said the new system has unfairly allocated the amount of fish he can catch and will wipe about the region's small boat fleet.

NMFS regional head Pat Kurkul said the change is needed, and
will ultimately help fishermen, because the current system has
failed to stop overfishing.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)