August 6, 2014 — In more bad news for the troubled New England groundfishery, a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that cod stocks in the Gulf of Maine are at an all-time low.
The report was issued late last week through NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Center.
“The new analysis presents a grim picture for the potential recovery of this iconic fish stock,” a statement from NOAA said.
The federal fishery agency monitors fish stocks across the country. The latest assessment of Gulf of Maine cod found every indicator declined or worsened in 2013, with spawning biomass levels estimated at a low three to four per cent of the target for sustainability. Other indexes used to measure recovery were found to have reached historic lows.
Cod is considered a key fish stock for the Northeast groundfishery.
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