December 17, 2023 — The New England Fishery Management Council’s final action on specifications meant to guide the groundfish fishery in the coming fishing year offers increased catch limits for Eastern Georges Bank cod and haddock but a decrease for yellowtail flounder.
The council selected final measures for Framework Adjustment 66 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan at its December meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, last week.
The action, once approved by NOAA Fisheries, will guide the groundfish fishery for fishing year 2024, beginning May 1.
For commercial fishers, there are slight increases in the so-called sub-annual catch limits for Georges Bank cod and Gulf of Maine cod, and a more significant reduction to the sub-ACL for Georges Bank haddock.
Some of the Framework 66 provisions apply to fishing years 2025 and 2026 as well.