OLD LYME, Conn. (AP) — Interstate fishing regulators will vote on changes to rules that govern removal of fins from some coastal sharks by fishermen.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is considering an amendment that would allow fishermen to bring smooth dogfish to land with fins removed as long as their total retained catch is at least 25 percent smooth dogfish.
Current rules say fishermen can bring ashore as many dogfish with fins removed as they choose. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday.
Fishermen bring smooth dogfish ashore in states from Rhode Island to North Carolina.
A commission official says the rules about smooth dogfish fins are different from other sharks in part because their meat can spoil faster than other species.
Fishermen caught about 1.8 million pounds of smooth dogfish in 2014.