September 6, 2014 — An annual survey of Maine and New Hampshire fish stocks yielded fewer fish than any year since 2006.
The fall 2013 Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey resulted in the second-lowest average catch weight since 2000, scientists who participated in the survey said. Atlantic cod, mackerel and spiny dogfish counts were “greatly reduced” from previous fall trawls, according to a report about the survey.
The fall trawl survey provides state and federal regulators with a tool to monitor long-term population trends in commercial fish stocks. State Department of Marine Resources workers trawl the coast from the border of New Hampshire and Massachusetts to the border of Maine and Canada to collect data about fish species abundance.
Lobster, silver hake and Atlantic herring combined to make up more than 70 percent of the total catch weight. The average catch weight of 284 pounds was down from about 300 pounds last fall and a high of about 500 pounds in fall 2007.
Read the full story from the Associated Press at The Washington Times