PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — New England fishermen and scientists met Friday amid an industry crisis in a forum that aimed to shed light on, and air disagreement about, the controversial science of counting fish.

Fishermen have long questioned fish population estimates offered by scientists, often because they contradict with what they find at sea. And with key stocks struggling and huge projected cuts set to decimate an already limping industry in 2013, the unrest is widespread.