October 16, 2025 — The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has revised and resubmitted a controversial plan that will split the New England cod fishery into four individual stocks starting next year.
Amendment 25 would divide the New England cod population – which is currently managed as two stocks – into four distinct stocks for more precise management. Under the new plan, catch limits would be independently set for the four stocks: Eastern Gulf of Maine, Western Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England. The new plan also slashed the total allowable catch limit across all stocks by 43 percent to 382.9 metric tons (MT).