Boston (AP) -- A judge has ruled that Gloucester's fish auction can remain open while administrative charges leveled by federal fisheries regulators that it falsified records are challenged in federal court.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in June that the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction would be shut for 10 days for an alleged probation violation.
The auction sought an injunction, and The Gloucester Daily Times reports that U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock on Monday ruled that NOAA could not impose penalties while the federal court case is pending.
The case dates to 2000, when NOAA accused the auction of buying illegally caught cod and falsifying records to cover it up. The government claims the auction kept a false record while on probation in 2004.
The auction links fishing boats directly with buyers.
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