February 23, 2012 | 9:42 AM | By

“Environmental group seeks fishery disaster declaration | SouthCoastToday.com”

Conservation Law Foundation thinks the catch of Gulf of Maine cod should be cut dramatically to jibe with the most recent stock assessment, but that fishermen shouldn’t have to bear the full brunt.

NEW BEDFORD — Dire stock assessments for Gulf of Maine cod this week prompted the Conservation Law Foundation to ask Commerce Secretary John Bryson for disaster relief for the fishing industry.CLF Vice President Peter Shelley also told Bryson his group believes catch levels for the year that begins May 1 should be dramatically lower than the lowest recommendation of the New England Fishery Management Council. The council’s lowest figure is 6,700 metric tons. CLF wants it set at 4,000 metric tons.At that level, CLF estimates a $4.7 million revenue loss in the Gulf of Maine cod fishery.Shelley told Bryson the CLF is joining Gov. Deval Patrick in asking for the state of emergency; Patrick had no luck with his request last year.

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