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

June 23, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s June meeting will run from Tuesday, June 24 until Thursday, June 26, 2025. This will be an in-person meeting with a Zoom webinar option for individuals who prefer or need to attend remotely.

START TIME: 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.  The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day. View the detailed agenda here.

February 19, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council met January 28-30, 2025 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In addition to standard business, the Council received a series of presentations on fisheries research projects being conducted in offshore wind development areas. The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) organized the presentations at the Council’s request and planned an evening poster session (photos below). Presentations and posters are posted on the Council’s website here.

ATLANTIC HERRING / RIVER HERRING: The Council received a presentation on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) 2024 River Herring Benchmark Stock Assessment. ASMFC staff provided the overview and answered Council questions.

The Council then received an update on Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, which is an action to minimize user conflicts in the Atlantic herring fishery, support rebuilding of the resource, and address river herring and shad catch. The Council will receive another update in June.

During its September 2024 meeting, the Council took final action on fishing year 2025-2027 specifications for Atlantic herring. At the time, the Council’s proposed specifications assumed the 2024 acceptable biological catch (ABC) would be caught.

Given the limited activity in the commercial fishery over the past year, the Council did not expect the U.S. annual catch limit would be fully utilized in 2024. It therefore tasked the Herring Plan Development Team (PDT) with

reviewing preliminary 2024 year-end catch information and developing an updated 2024 catch estimate, which was presented to the Council at the January meeting along with revised projections.

Based on the new information, the Council agreed to ask its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to provide updated fishing year 2025 and 2026 overfishing limit (OFL) and ABC recommendations. The Council also asked the SSC to consider results from the March 2025 Atlantic Herring Research Track Stock Assessment and a risk analysis that will be prepared by the PDT.

The Council will receive the SSC’s report during its April 2025 meeting and discuss whether revisions to the 2025 and 2026 specifications are warranted.

February 18, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has scheduled four Visioning Sessions to gather public input to help shape the development of a strategic plan to guide the future management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery over the next 3-5 years

Three of the sessions will be held in person and one will take place virtually. Here is the schedule:

• Rockport, Maine: February 27, 2025, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton Street

• New Bedford, Massachusetts: March 4, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: March 13, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Windsor Suites, 1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

• Webinar: March 24, 2025, 1 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Register here

For planning purposes please fill out this Google Form to let us know if you’ll be attending a session. The Rockport, New Bedford, and Philadelphia Visioning Sessions will not have a webinar option

February 10, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks candidates for the position of Administrative Officer (AO). This position serves as the principal staff advisor on financial planning and administrative management. The responsibilities include development, preparation, and monitoring of budgets and oversight of all federal and programmatic contracts and purchasing. The AO provides overall human resources management, including benefit program oversight, payroll, personnel policies, and records management. The application deadline is March 5, 2025.

Administrative Officer Responsibilities:

• Prepare documents in support of budgets and amendments, as well as justifications for funding.
• Operate and maintain the Council’s accounting system in accordance with all applicable laws.
• Prepare financial reports, monthly summaries of accounts, budget statements, and balance sheets.
• Anticipate funding needs and ensure that sufficient funds are available to support the Council’s needs.
• Establish and maintain cost and fund controls as needed to meet the needs of the Council.
• Prepare and submit required reports to the NOAA Grants Office.
• Prepare contracts for administrative services on behalf of the Executive Director.
• Prepare, review, and oversee contracting and purchasing.
• Compile the necessary information for the Council’s financial and compliance audit for review by independent or Inspector General auditors.
• Assume responsibility for personnel management duties, including salary and wage administration, staff development opportunities, maintenance of personnel records, employee services (e.g., retirement, insurance, social security, and workers’ compensation), and other administrative services.
• Assist the Executive Director in the overall operation of the Council office through recommendations regarding policies, procedures, personnel actions, equipment and other needs, fiscal responsibilities, and other administrative activities and functions as required.

 Qualifications: The Administrative Officer position requires expert knowledge of financial management, fiscal and accounting theories, concepts, principles, and procedures. A complete list of educational and professional requirements, as well as desired analytical skills, is outlined in the vacancy announcement.

Application Process: Please send a cover letter and a resume detailing education and experience to:

Cate O’Keefe, Executive Director
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950

Applications will be accepted via email (preferred) to sgoutier@nefmc.org or U.S. mail until the closing date of March 5, 2025. The anticipated hiring date is April 2025.