Fewer fishermen, but higher revenues in 2011
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports the Northeast fishing fleet caught more groundfish and made more money in the 2011 fishing year than in 2010.
As reported by The Associated Press, the number of fishing vessels in the Northeast fell from 890 to 805 in the fishing year that ended April 30, 2012. But groundfish revenues rose from $83 million to $90 million.
The Northeast fleet landed nearly 62 million pounds of groundfish such as cod and flounder, compared to about 59 million pounds the year before, the NOAA reported. Gross revenues for the groundfish catch rose from about $83 million to about $90 million.
Much of the groundfish catch in 2012 is lagging behind last year's pace, The Associated Press reported.
Stock assessments and updates on the slow recovery of key fish stocks could mandate huge, controversial cuts of up to 70% in 2013 catch limits, the Gloucester Daily Times reported on Christmas Eve.
However, NOAA Regional Administrator John Bullard, whose office regulates fisheries from Maine through the Carolinas, told the Gloucester newspaper he would consider an alternative proposal submitted by the Northeast Seafood Coalition that would allow for comparatively minor cuts in Gulf of Maine cod and haddock landings.
A decision on setting catch limits for the 2013 groundfish season is not expected until the regularly scheduled January meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council.
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