Groundfish season opens on time after NOAA passes emergency catch limits

The fishing season for cod, haddock and flounder started on time Thursday after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued emergency regulations this week.

The move came after weeks of delay because of the Trump administration's cuts to NOAA staff, and controversy over proposed changes to how the agency measures cod populations.

For now, catch limits for these bottom-dwelling fish will remain lower than last season. NOAA said it will delay any decision about the suggested updates to cod fishing regulations until next year.

State officials and fishermen in Massachusetts expressed relief that the fishery was allowed to open, but said the questions about cod need to be addressed.

"We are pleased to see NOAA Fisheries take emergency action to allow the federal groundfish fishery to continue uninterrupted, while working towards implementing appropriate adjustments sustain our fishing communities and prevent overfishing," said Tom O'Shea, state commissioner for the Department of Fish and Game.

Last week, O'Shea urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to take action before the season's start.

Retired groundfish fisherman Frank Mirarchi of Scituate said the temporary rule "buys us some time but doesn't fix underlying problems" around cod.

The proposed changes to NOAA regulations rely on genetic testing data to identify different cod populations and assign each its own catch limit. It would raise the number of catch types from two to four.

Mirarchi and other industry experts have raised concerns for months about the scientific data used to develop the proposed changes, and their potential economic impact.

The emergency regulations are temporary and will last for 180 days.