COMMERCIAL FISHERIES NEWS • SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • MAY 2008 • 1

NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE FACT SHEET

New Fishing Regulations for Northeast Multispecies Fishery
The following is a summary of new federal regulations for the Northeast multispecies fishery which are expected to go into
effect on May 1, 2010. These measures are included in Amendment 16 and Framework 44 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan. Amendment 16 was developed over thee years by the New England Fishery Management Council through an
open, public process, and approved by NOAA Fisheries Service on January 21, 2010. Framework Adjustment 44 (FW 44) modifies
several Amendment 16 measures and includes actual catch levels for the next three years. When finalized the complete regulations
will be available under Hot News on our website: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/

Why Are Additional Groundfish plans by September 1 of each year Sector Allocation Process
Measures Necessary? to ensure that these plans and asso-
ciated analyses are reviewed in time ‰‰ Sectors receive allocations for most
While there has been some progress to implement the operations plans groundfish stocks based on the
rebuilding groundfish stocks, such by May 1. total of each sector vessel’s pro-
as haddock and cod, the majority portional landings of each stock
of stocks are still overfished. These ‰‰ Sectors are required to submit (1996-2006). This is referred to as
measures are intended to continue weekly catch reports detailing land- the potential sector contribution
rebuilding depleted stocks and initi- ings and discards of each ground- (PSC).
ate rebuilding efforts for stocks newly fish stock. Sectors must also submit
declared overfished to meet federal an annual report to NOAA fisheries ‰‰ For vessels enrolled in either of the
requirements under the Magnuson- Service that details information nec- existing 2 sectors, their contribu-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Man- essary to evaluate the biological, tions towards a sector’s allocation of
agement Act (MSA). economic, and social impacts of sec- GB cod is based on their proportion-
tors. al landings (1996-2001). The Council
Dual Management System for 2010 made this distinction to be consis-
‰‰ Sector vessels must retain all legal- tent with existing allocations to
Under Amendment 16, vessels will be sized groundfish and can only dis- these sectors.
able to fish under days-at-sea (DAS) card undersized fish.
and trip limits as part of the common ‰‰ Sectors can trade stock allocations
pool, or hard quotas under sectors. Sector Exemptions with other sectors at any time dur-
ing the fishing year and up to two
A sector is a group of vessel permit ‰‰ All sectors are exempt from these weeks into the following fishing
holders who voluntarily agree to fish- regulations: year.
ing measures and procedures in ex- »» Trip limits;
change for a share of the total catch »» Groundfish DAS usage to land Sector Accountability Measures (AMs)
allocated to the industry. groundfish*;
»» Seasonal Georges Bank (GB) ‰‰ Once a sector’s allocation for a
Nineteen sectors have been authorized Closed Area; particular stock is caught or exceed-
to fish in the commercial groundfish »» Portions of Gulf of Maine (GOM) ed, that sector is required to cease
fishery, of which 17 have submitted Rolling Closure Areas; and fishing operations in that stock area
operations plans to do so for 2010. »» The requirement to use a 6.5- until it can acquire additional alloca-
More than half the groundfish permit inch mesh codend when using tion for that stock.
holders, representing 98 percent of the selective gear, except on GB.
historic catch, have signed up for a sec- ‰‰ Any stock overages at the end of the
tor in 2010. ‰‰ Sectors can request exemptions fishing year are deducted from the
from other restrictions on a case-by- sector’s allocation for that stock for
Key Sector Measures case basis through their yearly op- the subsequent fishing year.
erations plans.
‰‰ A sector must consist of at least 3 ‰‰ If insufficient allocation to cover the
persons, none of whom have an *Amendment 16 retains the existing 2009 DAS overage exists, a sector’s allocation
ownership interest in the other 2 allocations for sector vessels for the purposes for that stock would be reduced to
of participating in fisheries like the monkfish zero for the following fishing year
persons’ businesses in the sector.
and skate fishery that still require the use of a
and the sector cannot fish in the
groundfish DAS in certain circumstances.
‰‰ Sectors must submit operations (cont’d on next page)
2 • COMMERCIAL FISHERIES NEWS • SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • MAY 2008

tas for each stock, inseason trip limit

Restricted Gear Areas (RGAs) adjustments, triggered closed areas,
and quota deductions following an
Only Gears
Allowed in RGAs:
allocation overage would be imple-
mented along with dockside moni-
√√ Separator trawl toring requirements.
√√ Ruhle trawl
√√ Rope trawl Requirements for All Groundfish Vessels
(new definition)
√√ Hook gear
√√ Longline ‰‰ All vessels are prohibited from land-
√√ Tub trawls/ ing ocean pout, windowpane floun-
Handgear der, Atlantic wolffish, and SNE/MA
√√ Stand-up gillnets winter flounder.
√√ 10” tie-down
gillnets ‰‰ Only 1 Atlantic halibut can be kept
per fishing trip (status quo).
area of the overage unless it ac- lb/DAS up to 4,000 lb/trip) are re-
quires more allocation from another tained. ‰‰ The minimum fish size for Atlantic
sector. halibut is increased from 36 to 41
‰‰ For limited access Handgear A- inches.
‰‰ If the sector disbands following an permitted vessels, the current cod
overage, the contribution that each trip limit (300 lb/trip limit) stays in ‰‰ The 20% DAS leasing cap and DAS
vessel would bring to a new sec- place. conservation tax for the transfer pro-
tor would be reduced; or if a vessel gram are eliminated.
chooses to fish in the common pool ‰‰ For open access Handgear B-permit-
instead, it would be subject to a DAS ted vessels, the current cod trip limit ‰‰ Permits currently held in confirma-
reduction to account for the over- (75 lb/trip) remains in effect. tion of permit history (CPH) are
age. allowed to participate in DAS Leas -
‰‰ For Cape Cod (CC)/GOM and ing/Transfer Programs.
‰‰ In addition to overages, a sector and Southern New England (SNE)/Mid-
its participants could be held jointly Atlantic (MA) yellowtail flounder the ‰‰ The SNE/MA Special Access Area
and severally liable for discarding trip limit is increased to 1,500 lb/trip. (SAP) for winter flounder is
legal-sized fish or misreporting suspended.
catch (both landings and discards). ‰‰ New GB and SNE RGAs are estab-
lished, where fishing is only al- ‰‰ The opening of the Eastern U.S./
Common Pool Vessel Measures lowed using specific gear to Canada Area for trawl vessels is de-
minimize catch of overfished layed until August 1, 2010.
‰‰ DAS are reduced by 32% from 2009 stocks, particularly flatfish (see
allocations and all days fished are above image for locations and gears ‰‰ Limited access scallop permit hold-
counted in 24-hour increments (e.g., allowed). Specified gears may also ers are allowed to hold a limited
5 hours fished = 24 hours charged). be used outside RGAs. access NE multispecies permit
There is no differential DAS count- simultaneously, and vice versa.
ing, or 3-15 rule for day gillnet ves- ‰‰ The Regional Administrator is grant-
sels. ed authority to modify landings New Monitoring and Reporting
limits or DAS counting rates any Requirements
‰‰ A 2,500 lb trip limit for GB yellowtail time during the fishing year to re-
flounder stock is in effect. duce the chance that the annual ‰‰ At-sea monitoring is implemented
catch limits (ACLs) will be exceeded. to validate the catch for sector ves-
‰‰ A new 1,000 lb/DAS up to 10,000 lb/ sels.
trip possession limit for pollock is Common Pool AMs
adopted. ‰‰ At-sea observer notification must
‰‰ In 2010 and 2011, if ACLs are ex- occur 48 hours before each trip via
‰‰ The possession limit for GB cod is ceeded, differential DAS counting web-based system.
increased to 2,000 lb/DAS up to will be implemented in the
20,000 lb/trip. following year. ‰‰ Vessel trip reports (VTRs) must be
submitted weekly.
‰‰ The current GOM cod trip limits (800 ‰‰ In 2012 and beyond, trimester quo-
(cont’d on next page)
 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES NEWS • SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • MAY 2008 • 3

size, and/or bag limits can be de-

veloped by NOAA Fisheries Ser-
Broad Stock Areas -- vice in consultation with the
Council during the year following
VMS Reporting g an catch limit overage.
Gulf of
Maine Groundfish Allocation for Other
Directed Fisheries

Offshore Along with allocating an annual catch

g
Georges to the directed groundfish commercial
Inshore Bank and recreational fisheries, allocations

g
Georges of each groundfish stock are given to
Bank

g
other fisheries that catch groundfish as
Southern New
England
bycatch. These fisheries will receive an
allocation in 2010:

‰‰ Herring mid-water trawl fishery will

get 0.2% of the GB and GOM had-
‰‰ Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) ‰‰ The minimum size for haddock is dock allocation; and
trip declaration into Broad Stock reduced from 19 to 18 inches
Areas and submission of VTR serial for both commercial and rec- ‰‰ Atlantic sea scallop fishery will
number must be done prior to each reational fisheries. get GB and SNE/MA yellowtail
groundfish trip. (see image above) flounder based on the projected
Recreational Measures scallop catch.
‰‰ A Trip-level VMS catch report must be
completed if vessel is fishing in mul- ‰‰ The recreational sector receives an Frequently Asked Questions
tiple stock areas. allocation of GOM cod and GOM
haddock. The allocation is based Q. Why are the Council and the Agen-
‰‰ Dockside monitoring is being imple- on the recreational catch between cy requiring people to join sectors?
mented to validate landings. fishing years 2001-2006.
»» A minimum of 50% of sector fish- A. No one is required to join a sec-
ing trips will be randomly moni- ‰‰ The April closed season for the rec- tor. In New England, two sectors were
tored in fishing year 2010, 20% in reational fishery is being extended first developed and implemented by
2011, and 20% for both sectors by 2 weeks to reduce fishing members of the fishing industry over
and the common pool thereafter. mortality on GOM cod. It will now five years ago. Based on the experi-
»» Vessels must submit trip-start and to run from November 1 through ence of these sectors, the Council
trip-end hail reports to coordinate April 15. authorized the formation of 17 new
deployment of monitors. sectors in fishing year 2010. Fisher-
‰‰ The 2-hook per line restriction is men are provided with the option to
Enhanced Opportunities to Target removed. either join a sector or continue to fish
Rebuilt Stocks under area and DAS management.
‰‰ Fillets must contain at least 2- The intent of sector management is to
‰‰ The Closed Area (CA) I Hook Gear square inches of contiguous skin provide the industry with more flex-
Haddock SAP is expanded in both for species identification. ibility to determine when and how to
season and area. (see image on next fish, given the poor condition of many
page) ‰‰ Vessels are prohibited from land- groundfish stocks.
ing SNE/MA winter flounder and
‰‰ The CA II Yellowtail Flounder- Atlantic wolffish. Q. Why did the Council choose to
Haddock SAP is modified to facili- implement three separate landings
tate targeting of haddock. see ‰‰ The halibut minimum fish size is history baselines when making the
image on next page) increased to 41 inches and limit of allocations?
1 halibut per fishing trip remains.
‰‰ The use of 6-inch codend in sepa- A. For GB cod, the Council adopted
rator trawls on GB is permitted in Recreational AMs different baselines for existing versus
the Regular B DAS Program. new sectors to preserve the business
‰‰ Adjustments to season, minimum (cont’d on next page)
4 • COMMERCIAL FISHERIES NEWS • SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • MAY 2008

once their respective allocation for a

particular stock or DAS are exhausted?
CA I HGH SAP
A. Fishing vessels have the ability
to fish in modified SAPs, using spe-
cialized gear and/or baits to target
healthy stocks and avoid stocks in the
worst condition. They do not neces-
sarily have to stop fishing if they run
Old Area out of allocation, provided they secure
New Area additional allocation through trade or
transfer from another vessel or sector.

Q. Will sectors result in further consoli-

dation in the groundfish industry?

CA II A. Consolidation has been occurring

in this fishery for many years. If there
YELLOWTAIL/ is further consolidation in the fishery,
HADDOCK it will likely be due to stock condi-
SAP tion rather than sectors. Because
the majority of groundfish stocks are
considered overfished, they require
further reductions in fishing mortal-
ity to ensure continued rebuilding.
Yearly quotas may not be adequate
to enable all current vessels to fish at
historic levels.
plans developed by participants Are sectors Limited Access Privilege
in the two existing sectors, and to Programs (LAPPs) as defined under Q. What is being done to address
maintain the value of investments in the MSA? industry concerns that pollock is more
the permits made by those sectors. abundant than the current stock infor-
NOAA Fisheries Service does not con- mation suggests?
The Council also indicated its intent sider groundfish sectors to be LAPPs
to freeze catch history for newly as defined in the MSA. A. Pollock is currently considered to be
formed sectors to preserve the al- overfished and overfishing is occur-
location decisions and to promote ‰‰ Sector vessels are not issued a ing. However, a new stock assessment
economic stability in the fishery by permanent allocation. is scheduled for June. The agency, in
increasing the confidence that allo- concert with the Council, will work as
cations are unlikely to change in the ‰‰ Vessels are free to join a sector or quickly as possible to adjust manage-
future. leave a sector prior to the start ment measures to reflect any new
of each fishing year, thus the make information about pollock stock con-
The baseline for GOM cod and GOM up of the sector, and the allocation dition that comes out of this assess-
haddock for the recreational fish- to the group can change each year. ment.
ery was based on the proportion of
catch of those stocks attributable Because sectors do not meet the MSA Q. How is the agency going to moni-
to the recreational and commercial definition of LAPPs, neither a referen- tor/address sector progress after these
fisheries from a period when both dum vote by the fishing industry nor new regulations are implemented on
fisheries were subject to restrictions cost recovery from the industry to May 1?
on the catch of those stocks, and that cover regulation implementation are
are more reliable for the recreational required. A. We plan to work closely with sec-
fishery. The Council’s intent was to tor representatives and the Council to
provide fair allocations to these two Q. Due to the poor condition of some monitor how things are going -- track
fishery components when they were groundfish stocks, allocations for the social and economic implications
operating under similar manage- these stocks are low. Does a sector of sectors and make adjustments as
ment regimes. have to shut down or do common we can throughout the fishing year.
pool vessels have to stop fishing