Herring trawlers can continue to work New England waters after regional fishery managers declined Wednesday to ban the big vessels, which can accidentally catch the haddock prized by other fishermen.
Meeting in Newport, the New England Fishery Management Council balked at a proposal supported by haddock fishermen that would have temporarily banned so-called mid-water herring trawlers until the vessels have full-time, independent observers to monitor the catch. The proposed ban would have required the approval of federal regulators.
Several council members said that while they appreciate the problem, they weren't willing to impose an emergency ban. They vowed to continue to study the best ways of regulating trawlers, large vessels that sometimes scoop up other fish like haddock in their search for herring.
