NOAA announces proposed Northeast groundfish management measures

The proposed measures would enable all limited access groundfish permit holders to create groups or “sectors” that would get a share of the year’s allowable catch, based on the historic landings of their members. They also would develop their own rules for allocating that catch among the sector members. Those not in a sector would continue to be able to fish a set number of days per year in a common pool.

Expanded annual catch limits for each sector and for those not participating in the catch shares program are intended to end overfishing and ensure enough fish are left in the ocean to promote the rebuilding of depleted stocks. Measures proposed to discourage over-harvesting by either commercial or recreational fisheries include automatic reductions in the next year’s allowable catch, fewer days-at-sea, or changes to size limits, seasons, and bag limits. Expanded reporting requirements and monitoring systems are being proposed for the commercial fishery to make sure annual catch limits are not exceeded.

A number of other measures are being proposed to afford greater protection to fish stocks most in need, including:

• Rebuilding programs for witch flounder, Georges Bank winter flounder, pollock, northern windowpane flounder, and Atlantic wolffish, which were recently determined to be overfished
• An increase in the minimum fish size for Atlantic halibut from 36 inches to 41 inches to increase opportunities for halibut to spawn prior to capture, thereby increasing the likelihood that stock rebuilding will stay on track
• Gear restricted areas to protect the depleted southernmost winter flounder and yellowtail flounder stocks by requiring vessels to use selective gear that minimises catch of these species
• Longer closed season, adding two weeks in April, for the recreational fishery to reduce mortality on spawning Gulf of Maine cod