The federal fishing regulations in force since last May 1 continue to challenge fishermen, fish markets and fish policy makers.

Known as Amendment 13, the regulations severely restrict effort on groundfish stocks traditionally fished by New England fishermen.

Hank Soule, manager of the Portland Fish Exchange, reports that fish prices since May 1 average out to $1 per pound, the same as 2003. But the volume moving through the exchange is down by 20 percent. Fishermen are seeing flat prices and at least a 20 percent cut in revenue.

Unexpected were the past year’s fast rising fuel costs – up 80 percent – that have further cut fishermen’s revenue. Petroleum increases also affect trucking prices as well as processors’ costs for petroleum-based packing materials.

Haddock stocks are rebounding strongly, and the increase in haddock landings brings haddock prices down.

Soule said that the overseas monkfish market was strong all summer, a bright note in a foggy season.

Before the limitations on Days at Sea (DAS), few fishermen paid attention to market timing. They could afford some poor trips, looking to make up their losses on other trips. Now, with severely limited DAS, fishermen are recognizing that market timing is critical. The limited number of allowable days means that every trip must be a successful one.

Cindy Smith, Assistant to Department of Marine Resources Deputy Commissioner Lew Flagg, said that this summer, Amendment 13 provisions for special fishing days for certain categories of fishermen were meant to allow very controlled access to relatively abundant species without jeopardizing other less-numerous fish.

For one species, the yellowtail flounder, these days turned instead into a derby fishery. The result was a huge glut of yellowtail in June, July and August. To make matters worse, the fish were spawning and in poor condition when they were brought to market. Prices fetched were as low as 15 cents a pound.

In September prices for yellowtail at all three New England fish auctions – Portland, Gloucester and New Bedford – all had returned to normal ranges of 70 to 90 cents a pound.