PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A regulatory committee says the Gulf of Maine shrimp population is in such poor shape that the upcoming shrimp-fishing season should be called off this winter.

In its 2012 assessment report, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s shrimp technical committee is recommending that a fishing moratorium be enacted for the upcoming season. If a season is allowed to go forward, the committee says it shouldn’t start until at least half of the shrimp have hatched their eggs, which typically happens around mid-February.