To ease impact of quota cuts on New England groundfisheries, NOAA proposes opening long-time closure areas
As part of an overall effort to help fishermen adjust to new quota cuts for groundfish implemented last month, today, NOAA Fisheries announced a proposal to open approximately 33 percent of areas currently closed to protect groundfish and habitat that have been off limits for nearly 20 years — that is 2,925 square miles of the approximately 8,920 sq miles currently closed.