“Yes, we have no shrimp.” This will be the woeful refrain coming from shrimp lovers, seafood retailers and restaurants this winter.

The shrimp season has come to an abrupt halt — before it began.

At a November 3 meeting of state regulators in Portland, the unanimous vote was cast to scrap the 2014 shrimp season in the Gulf of Maine. Fishermen had requested to be allowed a quota of 385,000 pounds, less than a third of last season's.

The last shutdown was in 1978. A survey over the summer indicated that stocks were at the lowest level since 1984.

The closure will have a huge impact on Maine shrimp fishermen, and to Maine's overall economy.

For an in-depth look at the shrimp industry, read our follow-up article.