WASHINGTON (CN) - The North East Atlantic stocks of pollack and three types of flounder are overfished and in need of immediate rebuilding plans, according the National Marine Fisheries Service.
To rebuild overfished stocks the agency proposes significant catch reductions, including a total ban in some areas by the gillnet, longline-hook and trawler fisheries.
Under proposed plans, witch flounder and Georges Bank winter flounder, stocks would be rebuilt by 2017, with a 75-percent probability of success. Pollock and northern windowpane flounder stocks would be rebuilt by 2017, but the agency can not determine the probability of success due to limited data. The rebuilding plans are assumed to begin in 2010.
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