Atlantic butterfish not overfished, finding could lead to expansion of directed fishery
SEAFOODNEWS.COM April 24, 2014
A new scientific assessment of the Mid-Atlantic butterfish population indicates that the stock is not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring. Further, since 1989 the fishery biomass has been above its target level. This new study confirmed Gier Monsen's efforts as an advisor to the Mid-Atlantic Council to take a better look at butterfish. Monsen, who founded Seafreeze in Rhode Island, passed away last year. The new assessment will reduce bycatch issues in the squid fishery, and could potentially support a directed fishery.
The findings were detailed in the 58th Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) Summary Report, which was released by the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center last month after being approved by a panel of external peer reviewers during the Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) process.
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