Regulators OK catch quota carryovers
Federal regulators will allow Northeast fishermen to carry over up to 10% of unused catch quotas from last year for all groundfish except Gulf of Maine cod.
John K. Bullard, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's Northeast region administrator, announced the move Thursday.
For cod, Bullard announced, only 2% of catch quotas may be carried over for this year as a result of persistent low stock in that fishery. The depletion of that species prompted regional fishery management officials in late January to recommend a 77% reduction to catch limits for the next fishing season.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree praised Thursday's announcement, saying that the carryover dampens the potential for fishermen to endure unfavorable conditions as they rush to fulfill quotas before the end of the season.
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