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Fisheries Council to Consider Emergency Maine Gulf Haddock Request

PORTLAND, Maine — The New England Fishery Management Council is set to consider a request for an emergency action about the haddock catch limit in the Gulf of Maine.

The council's meeting takes place Wednesday. The council — an inter-governmental body that represents state and federal interests — is being asked to modify the annual catch limit for the 2014 fishing year for Gulf of Maine haddock. The action would be contingent on a July 2014 stock assessment.

The council will also consider an emergency request about the herring fishery that would impact the haddock stock. Herring fishermen are nearing their haddock bycatch limit for Georges Bank and are asking the council for emergency help. Exceeding the cap would effectively shut the herring fishery down. Many haddock fishermen oppose raising the bycatch cap.