PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Amid a fog of scientific uncertainty, legal dispute and fierce debate, the New England Fishery Management Council on Wednesday asked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to institute an interim and emergency catch limit on inshore or Gulf of Maine cod for the coming year in the range of 6,700 metric tons to 7,500 metric tons.
Following the decision, the council moved on to debate a number of ideas for mitigating the economic harm that cutting the cod landings are expected to cause to the Gloucester and inshore fleets all along the coast.
The government is not required to follow the recommendation, but Sam Rauch, who heads NOAA's ad hoc cod crisis team, promised a quick decision on the catch limits.
Minutes before the amendment for a wider recommendation was approved, the council rejected on a 9-8 vote a proposed catch level of 7,500 metric tons
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