Atlantic cod. Photo: Vladimir Wrangel via Shutterstock
December 4, 2019 (BOSTON, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today after the New England Fishery Management Council recommended new annual catch limits for cod beginning in 2020. The decision comes as New England’s cod population remains overfished and founders at historic lows.
“Fishery managers are failing in their job to end overfishing of New England’s most recognizable fish species,” said Peter Shelley, Senior Counsel at CLF. “Cod are in crisis and the Council once again failed to make the hard decision needed to end overfishing and rebuild these populations. The proposed limits are unlawful, and the federal government must disapprove them. Directed fishing on Atlantic cod should have been stopped years ago.”
CLF submitted comments on the proposed catch limits, calling for an immediate end to overfishing of cod and rebuilding of the population as quickly as possible. The comments can be found here.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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