BOSTON—Nearly two dozen members of Congress are asking the U.S. Department of Commerce secretary to take emergency steps to increase fishing catch limits before the Northeast switches to a new way to manage the fishery.
Under the new system, in effect May 1, fishermen working in groups called "sectors" are allowed to catch a certain amount of each species of groundfish, such as cod and flounder. If the sectors exceed their limit on any species, they must stop fishing for all species.
In the letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke dated Wednesday, the lawmakers said catch limits for some fish, such as pollock, are so low, that fishermen could exceed their sector's limit in one tow of their nets.
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