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January 15, 2009

Cuts proposed for groundfishing fleets

By The Mainebiz News Staff

New England's struggling groundfishing industry is up against a new set of federal rules that would further cut the number of days fleets are allowed at sea.

The National Marine Fisheries Service on Wednesday announced the rules, proposed for the season beginning May 1, and was expected to publish details later today, the Portland Press Herald reported. Designed to replenish depleted fish stocks before a federal deadline in 2014, the proposal would cut by 18% the number of days fleets are allowed to fish. Also, boats in an expanded area of the Gulf of Maine would use two fishing days for each actual day at sea. The typical fishing boat is down to 48 days after years of gradual cutbacks. The proposal, if approved, would serve as an interim measure until a New England fishery advisory panel completes a new set of rules scheduled to go into effect May 1, 2010.

The proposal drew harsh criticism from U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe and the Pew Environment Group, a conservation organization, for putting fishermen's livelihoods at risk, the paper reported.

 

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