May 2, 2015 — A deep cut to the amount of cod New England fisherman can catch went into effect Friday, as regulators try to save the struggling industry.
Federal regulators reduced the Gulf of Maine cod catch limit from 1,550 to 386 metric tons for the fishing year that started Friday. The quota cutback is needed because the level of cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine is a fraction of target levels, regulators have said. The cut means fishermen will also be restricted in how much they can catch of other popular food species like haddock and hake.