December 16, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) held its December meeting and took actions on the 2026 Priorities.
REDUCTION IN REGIONAL MANAGEMENT CAPACITY
The Council heard an update on recent reductions to federal science and management resources, including a total loss of 545 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) positions, including 50 staff positions within the Northeast Region alone. These reductions have not only delayed management actions, but directly affected stock assessments, surveys, and data streams.
In 2025, several planned stock assessments were replaced with “data updates,” which are “summaries of new data that have become available since the last management track assessment. Specifically, they update (1) total U.S. catch (landings and discards) by commercial and recreational sector, as appropriate, and (2) aggregated NEFSC survey indices.” Data updates are expected for many stocks in 2026 as well, see the full NRCC schedule here. The Council is responding to these reductions through the Omnibus Management Flexibility Action and the Risk Policy work (see below).