BOSTON, Mass. — January 23, 2013 — The New England Fishery Management Council’s (NEFMC) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) met on Wednesday to review allowable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine cod, as well as for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder.
These ABC’s would apply to fishing years 2013 through 2015 and will be reviewed at the NEFMC’s upcoming full council meeting.
In light of uncertainties surrounding benchmark assessment and projection data, the SSC decided to pass along two alternatives to the NEFMC’s full council. One of these models recommends a constant catch ABC of 1,249 metric tons, while the other recommends a constant catch ABC of 1,550 metric tons. While both alternatives end overfishing in 2013 under a base case model and both reduce the risk of flawed projections threatening the stock, the 1,249 metric ton model would have a greater impact on fishing revenues. Both ABCs will be passed along to the NEFMC full council, however the SSC plans to recommend the 1,249 metric ton option. For Georges Bank cod, the SSC recommended an ABC of 2,506 metric tons.
During the afternoon portion of the meeting, the SSC decided on an ABC recommendation for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder. Under a constant catch approach, an ABC of 1,676 metric tons will be passed along to the NEFMC’s full council in the hope that this ABC will keep winter flounder catch on track with its expected long-term yield under a scenario in which its recruitment remains consistent with recent values.
Several sound bites that are relevant to these decisions can be found below:
Listen to Groundfish Committee member, David Goethel, discuss the two Gulf of Maine cod assessment models and the uncertainty surrounding the status of the stock.
Listen to Vito Giacalone of the Northeast Seafood Coalition discuss industry participation in the management process and the role that factors such as natural mortality play in decisions regarding fisheries management.
Listen to Steven Correia of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries discuss his concerns regarding the management process and voice his support for an ABC of 1,249 metric tons for Gulf of Maine cod.
Listen to Alexei Sharov of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources voice his support for presenting both Gulf of Maine cod constant catch models to the NEFMC’s full council.
Listen to Steven Correia of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries discuss his discomfort with the status of the Gulf of Maine cod stock.
Listen to John Ours, a second-generation fisherman, discuss the role of predation on the Georges Bank cod stock.