American Oceans Campaign, Earthjustice and the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen\u27s A

American Oceans Campaign, Earthjustice and the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen\u27s Association collectively have filed a lawsuit against the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for failing to protect essential fish habitat as required by the Magnuson and sustainable Fisheries acts. The group filing suit are concerned about the impact of mobile gear, like scallop dredges, on fish habitat off the New England coast. With references to a growing dispute over the composition of the NEFMC. Maine used to have four members on the council, New Hampshire had two, and Massachusetts five. But one of Maine\u27s seats was recently given to New Hampshire, though Maine has 3,500 miles of coastline and a $273 million fishing industry, compared to New Hampshires\u27s 18-mile coast and $13 million fishing industry