September 11, 2023 — Federal regulators have increased the amount of haddock Maine fishermen are allowed to catch this season.
The industry had been facing about a 70% cut in the allowable haddock catch as compared to last season. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has raised those limits by about 30%, a level that regulators say should avoid a potential shutdown of Maine’s groundfish fishery but still prevent over-harvesting.
Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, says despite initial stock assessments that suggested otherwise, the Gulf of Maine haddock population appears healthy.