PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – New England lobstermen are bracing for potential bait shortages next summer after fishery managers voted to slash the amount of herring that can be caught next year.

The New England Fishery Management Council on Tuesday voted to reduce the 2009 catch limit by 45 percent because of the uncertain outlook of the herring population. The meeting was in Newport, R.I.

Fishermen say such steep cuts will give herring fishermen less fish to catch, thus reducing supply and driving up the price of herring that lobster fishermen use as bait.

Patrice McCarron of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association told the Portland Press Herald that lobstermen are asking if the bait supply will hold up next summer and if they’ll be able to afford it.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com