PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Local recreational and charter fishermen fear the outcome of an upcoming hearing with the National Marine Fisheries Services, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), could mean the end of groundfishing in the Gulf of Maine.
"We’re seriously concerned," said Capt. Aaron Silberdick, who operates with several charter fishing businesses out of Rye Harbor. "It’s going to put a lot of people out of business, not only in New Hampshire, but Massachusetts as well."
Federal officials, industry leaders and scientists in February are expected to discuss the implications of a 2011 preliminary assessment that shows the cod stock was much smaller in 2008 than initially believed.
NOAA set a deadline in 2004 to rebuild the cod species by 2014. An earlier 2008 survey showed that goal was possible. But researchers are now saying the earlier survey might have sharply overestimated the number of young cod.
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