If the 22 percent cut in groundfish hauls two years ago was a blow to Maine's fishing industry, then the proposed 77 to 82 percent cut would be catastrophic, according to Ben Martens, Maine Coast Fisherman's Association Executive Director.

Between January 29-30, federal regulations are set be announced that will cut between 70 and 80 percent of catch limits for ground fishermen as a result of a quickly crumbling stock of cod.

The current catch limit is 6,700 metric tons per boat. Under the proposed cut that number would slip to 1,249 to 1,550 tons. The new number might not be enough to support a boat, let alone an industry, Martens said.

“That means that a lot of my guys would go out 50 percent to 75 percent fewer times,” he said. “But, the bottom line is no fish, no money.”

Having fewer trips means less pay for fishermen but a potential source of aid dried up on January 28, when the U.S. Congress passed the $50 billion Sandy Relief Bill without any allocations going to fishermen.

Martens said he hoped that some money would be shifted to fishermen, but he didn't budget for it.

“It wasn't expected,” he said. “There were no indications that there was anything to help fishermen in the relief bill, but we were hoping we could pull something off.”

That money would have been sent to an area the government declared to be in a state of emergency in 2012.

A stock assessment was carried out in 2011; its numbers suggested that a cut of around 70 percent should be enacted to protect struggling cod populations. That assessment was tasked to be redone and the results were even more grim.

“Regardless, it wasn't going to put fish in the water,” he said. “We're just not seeing the stocks we're used to seeing. That's a real concern.”

Martens said that through other agencies, which includes NOAA, a plan needs to be enacted that not only protects the fish but the men and women who go out after them.

“We are going to have some really hard decisions in the next couple of years,” he said. “We are still going to work with the federal government for any appropriations we can get.

“We will have to sit down with our fishermen and have a discussion on how we are going to survive this.”

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbyaregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.