July 2, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
After extensive deliberation at the June meeting, the New England Council voted to resubmit Amendment 25 (A25), which would replace the current Atlantic cod stocks in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank with the newly identified cod stocks in Eastern Gulf of Maine, Western Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England. The resubmission will include the Council’s previously recommended cod measures from Framework 69 (FW69).
The Council’s decision was based on NOAA’s disapproval of A25 in May due to procedural issues. NOAA’s disapproval letter detailed that A25 lacked critical management elements including reference points, accountability measures, and catch limits, but noted that the revised stock structure, with four cod stock units, is the best scientific information available. The “missing management elements” noted in the disapproval letter were included in the parallel action, Framework 69 (FW69), which is currently under NOAA review.
FW69 was intended to work in tandem with A25, but upon publication it will only replace the current Emergency Action specifications for the non-cod, groundfish stocks. The emergency measures for cod are anticipated to be extended for the entirety of Fishing Year (FY) 2025.
The Council will pause work on several 2025 groundfish priorities to complete the resubmission of A25 later this fall, including:
•Redfish sector exemption
•Evaluation of the monitoring system, per Amendment 23
•Revise ABC control rules for Northeast Multispecies stocks
Many Council members voiced frustration over NOAA’s disapproval of A25 and the recommended guidance for the Council to resubmit the action, citing unforeseen “procedural issues”. However, the Council supported continued engagement to ensure the 2026 groundfish season opens on May 1, 2026, and voted with no opposition to “finish the job”. The revised A25 is scheduled for final action at the September Council meeting.
Framework 72
The Council also initiated groundfish Framework Adjustment 72 with anticipated final action scheduled for December 2025. This action will set specifications for groundfish stocks for FY2026-2028, US/Canada Total Allowable Catch for FY2026, and other measures:
• FY2026-FY2027 specifications for Georges Band cod and haddock; FY2026-FY2028 specifications for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder, Georges Bank winter flounder, Gulf of Maine winter flounder, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder, white hake, Acadian redfish, ocean pout, and Atlantic wolffish
• Establish Regional Administrator authority to adjust recreational measures for haddock and cod on a permanent basis