New England fishermen have caught Atlantic cod for centuries, but catch has dwindled over the last decade due to overfishing, restrictive fishing quotas and environmental changes.
Maine fishermen brought fewer cod to the docks last year than any other in recorded history, state regulators said earlier this month. The state's catch, which was more than 20 million pounds in the early 1990s, was less than 50,000 pounds last year, state records show.
Cod are the fish of choice for fish and chips in the U.S., but the collapse of the industry has left the country dependent on imports from countries such as Iceland. Russia is another major exporter, but theU.S. fishing quotas for Atlantic cod are so low that most fishermen avoid them altogether, said Terry Alexander, a fisherman based out of Harpswell, Maine. Those same fishermen target other species of bottom-dwelling whitefish such as haddock and flounder.
“We can't catch cod. The quota is so low that nobody could target cod. Nobody,” Alexander said. “That's how we're going to handle it.” The nationwide catch of Atlantic cod reached a low point in 2020 at about 1.6 million pounds. Nationwide figures for 2021 have not yet been assembled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which regulates U.S. fisheries. The nationwide Atlantic cod catch was well over 100 million pounds per year in the early 1980s.
The collapse of the cod fishing industry is a stark contrast to most of the rest of Maine's fishing industry, which has grown in value in recent years. Much of the growth has come from the soaring price of lobster, the state's signature export.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Haul of Atlantic cod, once abundant, reaches new lowPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — One of the oldest fishing industries in the U.S. sank to a new low in catch last year, signaling that efforts to rebuild the fishery still have a long way to go. New England fishermen have caught Atlantic cod for centuries, but catch has dwindled over the last decade due to overfishing, restrictive fishing quotas and environmental changes.
Read more »
New life, new struggles: Afghans still adjusting to USWASHINGTON (AP) — Taliban forces had taken the Afghan capital. Crowds of panicked people thronged the airport. And a young man who had worked as a subcontractor for the U.S. military faced a terrible choice.
Read more »
New Life, New Struggles: Afghans Still Adjusting After Evacuation to USRefugees say in interviews with The Associated Press that they are grateful to the U.S. for rescuing them and family members. But they say they often struggle to gain a foothold in a new land.
Read more »
New bill would expand abortion access for New Yorkers, out-of-state seekersThe “Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program” would provide funding for “abortion providers and nonprofit organizations to help increase access to care.”
Read more »
Meet The Nines' Pianist Sam Behr, New York's Hot New ChanteuseAs house singer and pianist at NYC hot spot The Nines, Behr enchants the nightlife set.
Read more »
New York, New Jersey at highest average gas prices on recordNew York is up to $4.51 per gallon, a 17 cent increase from last week, while New Jersey is at $4.47 per gallon, up 25 cents.
Read more »