Industry reels from NMFS groundfish proposal

GLOUCESTER, MA – The groundfish industry couldn’t have been more shocked in mid-January when the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released its proposed rule for secretarial interim action to further reduce fishing mortality during the 2009 fishing year.

“People are stunned,” said George Lapointe, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). “They’re trying to figure out what this means and if there are any options.”

The interim rule, which is out for public comment until Feb. 17, proposes to significantly expand the 2-for-1 days-at-sea counting area to encompass the entire Gulf of Maine and the northern portion of Georges Bank. It also proposes to create an enormous Southern New England Closure Area where all groundfish dragging and gillnetting would be prohibited. ...continued


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