In the groundfishing world, conventional wisdom is that Gulf of Maine cod is back. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, reported just three years ago that cod levels appeared to be improving at a time when other groundfish were still struggling. But preliminary NOAA data rocking the industry indicates that the exact opposite is happening.
That's according to Steve Cadrin, a marine scientist working with NOAA and others on a stock assessment. "The results are now that the stock is overfished again and the stock cannot rebuild by 2014–even if no fishing is allowed," he says.
2014 is the deadline set by fisheries managers a decade ago for rebuilding Gulf of Maine cod, which has been heavily fished in New England for centuries for its white, mild flesh.
Cadrin, an associate professor of marine science at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, says that suspected overfishing by commercial and recreational fishermen alike may lead to more restrictions. "How that plays out we can't say right now–that has to go through the management process–but some very strong management actions will be needed if these results are accepted."
The results still face a peer review process later this month, but they're already alarming fishermen and fisheries managers. Pat Fiorelli is spokeswoman for the New England Fisheries Management Council, which develops regional fishing policy subject to review by federal regulators.
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