March 26, 2018 — U.S. fishing regulators are soliciting feedback from the public about a plan to increase catch quota for a slew of key fish stocks, some of which are jointly managed with Canada.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to increase quota for Georges Bank cod by 139 percent, Gulf of Maine cod by 41 percent and Gulf of Maine haddock by 190 percent. The agency also wants to increase eight other stocks and decrease nine others.
The agency says increased cod and haddock quota would provide “economic revenue and flexibility” to Northeastern fishermen. The haddock stock has been strong, but the cod stock has plummeted this decade and has been the subject of intensive rebuilding efforts by regulators.
Read the full story at the Gloucester Times