PORTLAND, Maine — June 19, 2014 — Commercial fishermen who trawl for herring off the coast of New England will not be allowed to exceed their incidental haddock catch limit this year after a ruling in a dispute pitting two of the Northeast's key fisheries against each other.
Atlantic herring fishermen who fish from mid-water trawl boats are on track to exceed their bycatch of haddock in Georges Bank, off the coast of New England, federal regulators have said. That would trigger rules that would prohibit fishermen from catching more than 2,000 pounds per trip — effectively shutting down the herring fishery.
The New England Fishery Management Council, an interstate body that manages fisheries, voted down an emergency request from herring fishermen on Thursday that could have raised their limit for haddock bycatch. Many haddock fishermen opposed the move because they said it would contribute to the depletion of their fishery. The council voted down the request, 10-0, at a meeting in Portland.
Council member Tom Dempsey called raising the cap a "terrible idea" that would jeopardize the health of the haddock fishery. Haddock fishermen and environmentalists who spoke at the meeting agreed.
"What we should be doing is working to reduce haddock bycatch," said Roger Fleming, an attorney speaking on behalf of the Herring Alliance.
Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Wall Street Journal