September 28, 2015 — The three states involved in the Gulf of Maine northern shrimp fishery are no closer to agreeing on future management options for the beleaguered fishery and have postponed until next summer the discussion on limiting access to the fishery when it reopens.
The northern shrimp section of the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission, the multi-state regulator for shrimp and other near-shore species, announced it has halted further development of the draft amendment addressing access to the collapsed fishery.
Now it appears it largely will be left to Maine to come up with a plan amenable to Massachusetts, New Hampshire and the rest of the ASMFC.
“The states were having trouble finding something that would work for them all,” said ASMFC spokeswoman Tina Berger. “So, for now, Maine will tackle it on their own because they have by far the largest number of fishermen in the fishery.”
Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times