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Federal officials lift ban on 'Codfather's' New Bedford fishermen

BRIXHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: A fishing trawler heads out to sea after being moored in Brixham harbour on March 3, 2016 in Devon, England. The UK's fishing industry is likely to be radically affected by the outcome of the EU referendum that the UK electorate will vote on June 23. Currently under the EU's Common Fisheries Policies (CFP), quotas are imposed on UK fishermen and it also grants equal access to other European fishing fleets to the UK 200-mile exclusive economic zone around the UK coastline whilst preserving a 12-mile zone for exclusive UK boats. However if the UK votes to leave the UK would regain full control over its 200-mile fishing zone, although bilateral agreement with other fishing nations could require granting access on a quid pro quo basis and there is uncertainty about the potential loss of export markets. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Fishermen who worked for the New Bedford fishing magnate known as "The Codfather" will be allowed to return to work after a federal ban grounded their vessels for months.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday it approved an arrangement allowing area fishermen to reconcile more than 700,000 pounds of fish Carlos Rafael mis-reported between 2012 and 2015.

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.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation who had called for ending the ban praised Thursday's decision.

Associated Press

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