PORTLAND (AP) – A coalition of environmental groups has released a new report that claims large herring trawlers pose a threat to New England waters.

The report, called “Out of Balance: Industrial Fishing and the Threat to Our Ocean,” was released Wednesday in Portland by a group called the Herring Alliance.

The report says herring boats known as midwater trawlers need added regulation and have the potential to catch nearly all forms of sea life in their paths – not just herring.

In response, another coalition representing herring vessel owners and crews said the report is flawed and uses “sensationalism, misinformation and fear tactics” to make its point.

AP-ES-05-21-08 1625EDT