The cusk, Brosme brosme , is a deepwater species that is found in rocky, hard bottom areas throughout the Gulf of Maine. The stock structure of cusk is unknown. Although little information is available for Gulf of Maine fish, cusk from the Scotian Shelf area are relatively slow growing and late maturing. The principal fishing gears used to catch cusk are line trawl, otter trawl, gill net, and longline.
Recreational fishing is insignificant and foreign catches are minor.
The fishery is not under management. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, annual landings were relatively stable at about 1,700 mt per year, but increased in the late 1970s to early 1980s, peaking at 3,800 mt in 1981. Landings subsequently declined to 1,500 mt in 1988, then increased to 2,400 mt in 1992, and have declined to a record low of 500 mt in 1998. Canadian landings in 1998 were 140 mt. Almost all Canadian landings have been taken on Georges Bank.