The recreational fishery for GOM cod and haddock is managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The FMP includes a proactive recreational accountability measure, which allows the Regional Administrator, in consultation with the New England Fishery Management Council, to develop recreational management measures for the fishing year to ensure that the recreational sub-ACLs are achieved, but not exceeded. We project that current measures for GOM cod and haddock can be liberalized somewhat without the 2020 recreational fishery’s sub-ACLs being exceeded.
After consultation with the Council, we are making setting the following Gulf of Maine cod and haddock management measures:
- GOM cod:
- Possession Limit: 1 fish
- Minimum Size: 21 inches (53.34 cm)
- Open season (Private): September 15 - 30, April 1 - 14
- Open Season (For-Hire) September 8 – October 7, April 1 - 14
- GOM haddock:
- Possession Limit: 15 fish
- Minimum Size: 17 inches (43.18 cm)
- Open Season: May 1 – February 28, April 1 - 30
