Federal fishery regulators have voted to increase the 2012 catch limit for Gulf of Maine shrimp–but by nowhere near as much as fishermen and others in the industry had been hoping. Meeting in South Portland earlier yesterday, the Northern Shrimp Section of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission agreed to increase the quota by 10 percent, to 2,200 metric tons, or 4.9 million pounds.
Shrimp processor John Norton's reaction to that decision can be summed up in two words: "Very disappointed," he says.
Norton is owner of Cozy Harbor Seafood in Portland and member of a group called "Save Our Shrimp," a collection of fishermen, dealers and processors. "Effectively it won't make any difference at all," Norton says.
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