July 23, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council will be working throughout the summer on several groundfish actions that will guide the next few fishing years and set the course for Atlantic cod management based on a new understanding of cod stock structure and results from recent assessments. Here’s a snapshot of what’s under development.
• AMENDMENT 25: Amendment 25 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is being developed to incorporate four new Atlantic cod stock units into the FMP. The Council is expected to take final action on Amendment 25 during its September 24-26, 2024 meeting in Gloucester. If approved by NOAA Fisheries, this amendment will add the four new cod stock units to the groundfish complex as defined for stock assessment purposes:
• Eastern Gulf of Maine cod;
• Western Gulf of Maine cod;
• Georges Bank cod as a revised stock unit; and
• Southern New England cod.
An outline of the Amendment 25 draft alternatives is posted here.
• FRAMEWORK ADJUSTMENT 69: The Council initiated Framework 69 during its June 2024 meeting. The list of draft framework measures is outlined in the box on page 2 and in this outline. Fishing year 2025-2027 specifications for the four new cod stock units will be established through this framework. The Council also will consider options for prorating commercial and recreational catch limits from the four cod stock units to the two current management units – Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. The management units will not change under Framework 69, just the stock units.