April 24, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:
Today, NOAA Fisheries announces three actions affecting the Northeast Multispecies fishery. These are the final rules implementing Framework Adjustment 53 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and the Sector Operations Plans for 2015-2016, and the interim final rule that implements additional recreational measures for the Northeast Multispecies fishery.
With these three actions, NOAA Fisheries is establishing annual catch limits for fishing year 2015 (May 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016) based on the best available science, and making necessary adjustments to commercial and recreational management measures to help prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks.
The 2015 catch limits for most groundfish stocks are the same as in 2014. However, given the poor status of several stocks, in particular Gulf of Maine cod, there are large reductions in catch limits for Gulf of Maine cod (-75%), Georges Bank winter flounder (-44%), and Gulf of Maine winter flounder (-53%). The reduction for Gulf of Maine cod is in addition to the 75% catch limit reduction we implemented for the 2013 fishing year.
We are also modifying existing Gulf of Maine area closures for the commercial groundfish fishery to help protect Gulf of Maine cod. This action adds some closure areas, while removing other areas to provide increased fishing opportunities on healthy groundfish stocks, like haddock. To improve catch monitoring of Gulf of Maine cod, vessels choosing to fish in the Gulf of Maine and another broad stock area on the same trip will be required to provide daily catch reports.
New recreational measures that become effective on May 1 include:
- Access to Gulf of Maine cod closure areas, but possession of Gulf of Maine cod remains prohibited
- Reduction in haddock minimum size to 17 inches, but bag limit remains the same at 3 fish
Seventeen sectors submitted operations plans and contracts for fishing years 2015 and 2016, which include exemption requests from certain regulations to improve the efficiency and economics of sector vessels. This year, we approved 19 of 22 requested sector exemptions. This is the first time we have approved two-year plans.
Read the “as filed” versions of the two final rules:
Read the “as filed” version of the interim final rule:
The bulletin with information on the three rules is available online, as is an information sheet on recreational fishing measures.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or email Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.
Catch of Acadian redfish. Credit NOAA/DOC