BOSTON — The health of the ancient Atlantic sturgeon has emerged
as the latest problem for a New England fishing industry already
facing serious threats to its future. On Wednesday, regional
fishery managers discussed protecting sturgeon, two months after
federal officials listed the fish in the Gulf of Maine as
“threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. Four other East
Coast populations of the imposing, prehistoric fish were listed
as the more serious “endangered” at that time. Fishermen are
forbidden from targeting sturgeon, but the listings could still
lead to tough new fishing restrictions, such as closing new
areas. That could happen if regulators determine so many
sturgeon would be accidentally caught by fishermen chasing other
species that it would jeopardize the sturgeon’s existence. The
prospect of more restrictions comes as fishermen in the Gulf of
Maine face a 22 percent cut in the catch of the key cod species
in May, with potentially catastrophic cod cuts looming in 2013.
They’re also getting