Federal officials make severe cuts in Gulf of Maine cod catch

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/officials-make-severe-cut-in-cod-catch_2012-04-03.html

BOSTON — Federal officials enacted a severe but not catastrophic cut in the cod catch for the Gulf of Maine on Monday, suspending the threat of collapse for New England's cod fishing industry.

The 22 percent cut from what fishermen were allowed to catch last year will take effect May 1.

The reduction will cause major problems for the industry, but fishermen had said an 85 percent reduction was possible after new data indicated that cod was in worse condition than previously thought. Such a large cut would have obliterated the traditional New England fleet.

The measure filed Monday in the federal register buys time for regulators and fishermen to find some way to avoid devastating cuts, which appear certain in 2013.

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[Sinistrous]

1. I have been appalled at the very small size of the cod fillets I see in stores.

(I do not buy them.)

The fishing industry has been catching too many young fish for too many years.

[NickB79]

2. It sounds like the federal agency caved to the demands of fishermen

22 percent doesn't sound like a large enough cut to truly help the cod population per the scientific evidence, but it's all the fishermen would stand for so it's what we get. Basically just slowing the collapse, but not stabilizing or reversing it.

Capitalism wins again over the environment.