New fishing regulations
take effect

PORTLAND, Maine - New commercial fishing regulations that seek to balance conservation of depleted groundfish stocks with concerns about New England's troubled fishing industry are now in effect.

The National Marine Fisheries Service says the interim rules that took effect Friday will cut the region's fishing revenue by 9 percent.

The rules are intended to remain in force until fishery regulators develop a broad new set of regulations that would take effect on May 1, 2010.

The current rules were issued last month. They were seen by fishermen as an improvement from an earlier proposal that fishermen say would have slashed their fishing time by 50 percent or more, potentially driving them out of business.