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A Phys.Org story reports that the level of codfish spawning in one of the most critical fisheries in the Northeast U.S. is at an all-time low.
National Marine Fisheries Service scientists say the amount of cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine is estimated at 3 to 4 percent of its target level. That number declined from 13 to 18 percent three years ago. Scientists say low levels of reproduction in the fishery are holding re-population back.
Federal regulators cut the Gulf of Maine cod harvest quota by 77 percent before the 2013-14 fishing season, and that's still in effect. The federal New England Fishery Management Council is working on new management measures for the species.
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Codfish Numbers at Key Fishery Hits All-Time Low
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!07/11 PDP a ni deppart m'I !pleH
(Score: 1) by Adamsjas on Monday August 11 2014, @07:21PM
If you read the link frojack posted you will see scientists (fishery biologists) were just as much to blame as politicians. Probably more so.
2011 catch allowances were based on 2008 data, and 2011 catch data was measured without understanding that the cod were more densely aggrigated due to the particular type of prey fish they were consuming. Dense fish populations in one area didn't mean dense fish populations everywhere.
The penalty for getting caught illegal fishing is usually loss of the boat. Don't be too ready to believe that American boats will risk a half million dollar boat to snag one net full of cod. It is probably just a canadian fisherman's lament to blame it on someone else for their own greed.
(Score: 2) by Vanderhoth on Monday August 11 2014, @10:18PM
I was on a coast guard ship, I saw the American trawlers with my own eyes skimming up and down the border. My dad is ex-navy, subs, and has been on countless missions where Americans, along with other nationalities (Spanish most notably) were apprehended fishing in Canadian waters. This is actually a well document and common occurrence for George's and the Grand banks. Obviously the loss of a half million dollar ship isn't enough discouragement. I'm not a fisherman, but at the moment Nova Scotia has some of the best fishing on the East Coast and we're working hard to keep it that way through conservation, but we can only control Canadian fisheries. If others are moving into our territory and pouching unless we catch them there's nothing that can be done. Make no mistake the ocean is a big place, unless you just happen to be in the same place as an illegal trawler it's unlikely you'll catch them in the act and actually be able to prosecute them. Even if you do catch them there are international politics at work that almost make it not worth while to do anything about it.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe