The number of days for shrimp harvesting was doubled to four days a week due to the weak catch since the season started last month.
Fishermen will be allowed to trawl for shrimp on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, up from only Mondays and Wednesdays. The extended days will begin Monday, Feb. 11.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Season voted to double the fishing days on Thursday afternoon.
In December, Maine’s shrimp season was curtailed by nearly 75 percent after scientists warned that the shrimp population is at risk because of overfishing and environmental conditions. The commission had said the 2013 season had to be curtailed because the northern shrimp stock has been overfished and water temperatures are the highest on record.
The 2013 season began on Jan. 22 for trawlers. For fishermen who use traps, the season will start Feb. 5, with a daily limit of 800 pounds per boat.
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