WASHINGTON — Members of New England’s congressional delegation are asking federal regulators for more flexibility in setting cod catch limits for next year as the region’s struggling groundfish industry faces the potential for even more severe cuts.

In a letter sent this week to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials, 12 senators and House members from New England — including all four of Maine’s delegation — urged NOAA to carefully consider options to avoid what are expected to be massive cuts in the allowable catch of Atlantic cod.

“A 2,000 metric ton (annual catch limit) would be untenable for the fishery and all efforts consistent with the law should be pursued to provide flexibility for these fishermen,” the senators and representatives wrote in their letter to Eric Schwaab, NOAA’s acting assistant secretary for conservation and management.

The delegation endorsed a proposal by the New England Fishery Management Council, which manages commercial fishing in the region, to allow ground fishermen to voluntarily reduce this year’s catch and carry over the unused portion of the quota to next year.

“We ask that you fully consider the council’s position and expedite any analysis necessary to fulfill its request,” the letter says. “Time is of the essence, and New England’s groundfish industry is awaiting the results of your decision.”

Once the economic backbone of the region, the cod fishery has been dramatically depleted and is now protected by austere catch limits. Maine’s groundfish industry is down to just a handful of boats; most fishermen have switched to catching lobster or other species.

A recent assessment of cod populations showed that even if all cod fishing were halted for two years, the stocks would not be considered rebuilt by 2014.

As a result, federal fisheries regulators reduced the quota for 2012 and are expected to slash the catch limits further in 2013.

Initially, the catch limit for 2012 was projected to be 1,500 metric tons, down from more than 8,500 the year before. But fishermen and regulators worked out a compromise, including carrying over part of the 2011 quota to 2012, to keep the limit at 6,700 metric tons.

Now fishermen, the council and New England’s congressional delegation are asking for similar flexibility for 2013.

The New England Fishery Management Council, composed of fishermen, regulators and others, typically recommends quota allocations in the fall. NOAA officials then review those quotas based on the law, and can approve, disapprove or modify them. The quotas are then established before the opening of the fishing season May 1.

Maggie Mooney-Seus, a spokeswoman for NOAA’s northeastern region, said Friday that the timeline could be different for cod because of the complexity of the issue. NOAA’s staff is reviewing relatively new scientific data that could affect the estimates for next year, although Mooney-Seus said she does not expect a major shift in the stock assessment.

But she said the staff is reviewing the various proposals recommended by the fishery council, some of which may be applicable to next year’s season. Other recommendations, such as breaking up the Gulf of Maine cod regulatory structure into sub populations of fish, may still be years away even if the science supports such a shift.

“That’s going to be a more long-term effort, to revisit that structure,” she said. “And when we do that analysis, anything that comes out of it will not be implemented for several years.”

Kevin Miller — 317-6256

kmiller@mainetoday.com