Fishing regulators are collecting the final comments from the public before deciding whether New England's shrimp fishery should remain closed for another year.
Scientists and environmentalists have portrayed the shrimp fishery as a victim of climate change, as the warming temperature of the Gulf of Maine has made the shrimp's habitat inhospitable. The fishery was shut down in 2013.
An arm of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was collecting comments about possible new rules for the fishery, should it ever reopen, through 5 p.m. Wednesday. It's expected to make a decision next week about whether to allow a fishing season in 2019.
A recent scientific analysis of the shrimp population says its population off New England remains depleted. The shrimp are mostly unavailable to seafood consumers.