PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — New England’s fishing regulators have approved massive cuts in cod catch limits that fishermen say will trigger the collapse of the industry.

The New England Fishery Management Council on Wednesday approved a year-to-year cut of 77 percent on the Gulf of Maine cod limit and 61 percent for Georges Bank cod.

Fishermen who chase bottom-dwelling groundfish say that allots far too few fish to make a living.

The Northeast’s top federal fisheries regulator, John Bullard, acknowledged that the cuts will be devastating. He said stocks are in perilous condition and the cuts are needed to help stocks rebound and preserve any future for groundfishermen.

Fishermen, though, said Wednesday that the science behind the cuts is deeply flawed and shouldn’t be used to justify such devastating cuts.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.