April 10, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council will host three in-person public workshops to identify challenges and begin discussing ideas for how to address Atlantic cod management considering that, moving forward, Atlantic cod will be assessed as four biological stock units instead of two.
The Council used to receive stock assessments for Gulf of Maine cod and Georges Bank cod. It now will receive stock assessments for: (1) Western Gulf of Maine cod; (2) Georges Bank cod under new stock boundaries; (3) Eastern Gulf of Maine cod; and (4) Southern New England cod.
As a result, the Council must deal with these new biological stock units on a management level. The three workshops will offer fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in before the Council begins formulating alternatives under Phase 2 of the Atlantic Cod Management Transition Plan.