New Fishing Rules in Place Along Pier, Glover Wharf

Fishing will be limited to certain areas along the waterfront near the city pier and Glover Wharf at the base of the Beverly-Salem Bridge, the Salem News reports on Monday morning.

The rules were put in place by a vote on the Harbor Management Authority as the area has undergone millions of dollars in improvements and at some point is expected to be the location of a new Black Cow waterfront restaurant.

Fishing will now be restricted to Glover Wharf and the end of the public pier, the paper reports.

Paul Earl, chairman of the Harbor Management Authority, told the paper the goal of the new rules is to use "this small space to the benefit all four constituencies," referring to recreational and commercial boaters, fishermen and the general public.

Steve Lotito, who owns Al's Bait and Tackle across Cabot Street from the pier, told the paper that the new rules amount to a "lockdown" on fishing that had previously happened in various locations on the waterfront.

The Harbor Management Authority agreed to allow fishing along an area behind the former McDonalds after it received a 700 signature petition led by Lotito, the News said. And Earl told the paper that when the waterfront walkway is extended under the bridge later this summer, fishing will be allowed there.

To read the Salem News' complete coverage, click here.