December 16, 2022 — A new 10-year rebuilding plan for Gulf of Maine cod has a 70 percent probability of rebuilding the beleaguered stock by 2033, according to the New England Fishery Management Council’s latest changes to Northeast groundfish management.
Under Framework 65 to the rebuilding plan, the strategy is to set a fishing mortality rate at 60 percent what would produce maximum sustainable yield, and low fishing mortality that will force low annual catch limits during the 10-year rebuilding period, according to a summary from the council after its Dec. 5-8 meeting in Newport, R.I.