ASSOCIATED PRESS • August 24, 2020
Cod fishing is tightly monitored because the fish’s population off the Northeast has dramatically declined in recent decades. However, NOAA said the recreational fishing rules “can be liberalized somewhat” without risking exceeding fishing quotas. The old rules limited cod fishing to Sept. 15 to 30. The new rules expand the season for private boats to include April 1 to 14. The season for for-hire boats will be expanded to Sept. 8 to Oct. 7 and April 1 to 14. NOAA is also expanding the open season for haddock, another sport fish found off New England.