An 80 percent cut to the catch of yellowtail flounder in prime New England fishing grounds is set to deal a vicious blow to a fishing industry already edging toward ruin.
The cut on yellowtail in Georges Bank, combined with major problems with other species, left regional fishery managers pondering Thursday whether to ask the U.S. commerce secretary to declare a federal disaster for the fishery, although they took no immediate action.
The Georges Bank fishing grounds, located to the east and southeast of Cape Cod, are frequented by larger, offshore vessels with the greater range to reach it. Last year, U.S. groundfish fishermen on Georges Bank were allotted about 1,140 metric tons of yellowtail. This year, they're getting about 218 metric tons, effective May 1.
The cut comes after the most recent research showed diminishing numbers of yellowtail and the U.S. saw its portion of the stock, which it shares with Canada, shrink to its lowest level.
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