Northeast Multispecies Management Plan
About
The Northeast multispecies fishery is managed by the New England Fishery Management Council using a variety of management tools, including days-at-sea, special management programs, and sectors. The fishery involves numerous species of groundfish found throughout the Greater Atlantic region. The fishery is executed using primarily trawl, gillnet, and hook gear.
Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR Part 648 Subpart F. Find out more about Managing Sustainable Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region.
Species Managed
More Information
Actions
NOAA is requesting comment on Proposed Rule for Southern New England Habitat Area of Particular Concern
Comments Close
10/26/2023
NOAA Fisheries is announcing additional approved electronic monitoring providers for fishing year 2022.
Published
01/20/2022
Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking for Atlantic Cod
Published
08/18/2021
Approved At-Sea Monitoring and Electronic Monitoring Providers for Groundfish Sectors
Published
02/04/2021
NOAA Fisheries has approved four companies to provide Northeast multispecies sector at-sea monitoring services in fishing years 2019 and 2020. Regulations implementing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan require at-sea monitoring companies
Published
02/01/2019
We propose small-mesh multispecies specifications for fishing years 2018-2020 and corrects a regulatory error from a previous rulemaking action. The specifications are intended to establish allowable catch limits for each stock within the fishery
Effective
04/27/2018
This notice announces a new control date that may be used to determine future participation in the Northeast multispecies charter/party fishery. This notice is necessary to inform interested parties that the New England Fishery Management Council is consi
Effective
04/18/2018
This action proposes approval of, and regulations to implement, Framework Adjustment 57 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This rule would set 2018-2020 catch limits for 20 multispecies (groundfish) stocks.
Effective
04/06/2018
We propose to set 2018 recreational management measures for Gulf of Maine cod and haddock and Georges Bank cod. This action is necessary to respond to updated catch and other scientific information.
Effective
04/06/2018
This action transfers unused quota of Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder from the Atlantic sea scallop fishery to the Northeast multispecies fishery for the remainder of the 2017 fishing year. This transfer implements an inseason adjust
Effective
03/21/2018
This rule extends the emergency action to remove the 2017 southern windowpane flounder accountability measures (AM) for non-groundfish trawl vessels. The rule is necessary because the emergency measures would otherwise expire before the end of the 2017 fi
Effective
03/01/2018
Framework Adjustment 65 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan & Emergency Measures for Gulf of Maine Haddock
NOAA Fisheries approved Framework Adjustment 65 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and is announcing final quotas for fishing year 2023. This action also approves and implements emergency measures for Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock.
Effective
08/18/2023
Fishing Year 2023 Recreational Management Measures for Cod and Haddock
Final Fishing Year 2023 Recreational Management Measures for Gulf of Maine Cod, Gulf of Maine Haddock, and Georges Bank Cod
Effective
08/14/2023
Gulf of Maine Cod Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery
This action closes the Gulf of Maine Cod Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear, through August 31, 2023.
Effective
07/27/2023
Approval of 2023 and 2024 Sector Operations Plans and Allocation of 2023 Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
Approval of 2023 and 2024 Sector Operations Plans and Allocation of 2023 Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
Effective
05/01/2023
Northeast Multispecies Common Pool Fishery and Other Measures for Fishing Year 2023
This action implements measures for the Northeast multispecies fishery for the 2021 fishing year, including common pool fishery possession and trip limits.
Effective
05/01/2023
White Hake Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery
This action closes the White Hake Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to common pool vessels on a groundfish trip fishing with trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear, except for Handgear A and B permitted vessels.
Effective
04/18/2023
Northeast Multispecies Fishery: Amendment 23
NOAA Fisheries has approved and implemented measures in Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted.
Published
12/09/2022
Changes to Cod and Haddock Recreational Regulations in the Gulf of Maine for Fishing Year 2022
NOAA Fisheries Makes Changes to Cod and Haddock Recreational Regulations in the Gulf of Maine for Fishing Year 2022
Effective
08/30/2022
Framework Adjustment 63 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
We approved Framework Adjustment 63 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and are announcing final quotas for fishing year 2022, effective July 15, 2022. This action also approves and implements recreational measures for Georges Bank cod.
Effective
07/15/2022
Northeast Multispecies Common Pool Fishery and Other Measures for Fishing Year 2022
This action implements measures for the Northeast Multispecies Common Pool Fishery for Fishing Year 2022, including possession and trip limits, zero trips to the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock SAP, and closure of the Regular B DAS program.
Effective
05/01/2022
Annual Catch Entitlements to Sectors for Fishing Year 2022
NOAA Fisheries Allocates Annual Catch Entitlements to Sectors for Fishing Year 2022
Effective
05/01/2022
Fishing Year 2021 Possession and Trip Limit Increases for the Common Pool Groundfish Fishery
This action increases the possession and trip limits of Gulf of Maine cod, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, and witch flounder for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year.
Effective
02/24/2022
2021-2023 Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications
2021-2023 Specifications for the Small-Mesh Multispecies (Whiting) Fishery, as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council.
Published
02/01/2022
Rebuilding Plan for the Southern Red Hake Fishery
NOAA Fisheries approves and implements a rebuilding plan for the southern red hake stock as proposed by the New England Fishery Management Council in Framework Adjustment 62 to the Small-Mesh Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.
Effective
01/25/2022
Framework Adjustment 61 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
Framework Adjustment 61 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
Effective
07/27/2021
Approval of 2021 and 2022 Sector Operations Plans and Allocation of 2021 Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
Final Rule: Approval of 2021 and 2022 Sector Operations Plans and Allocation of 2021 Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
Effective
05/01/2021
Northeast Multispecies Common Pool Fishery and Other Measures for Fishing Year 2021
This action implements measures for the Northeast multispecies fishery for the 2021 fishing year, including common pool fishery possession and trip limits.
Effective
05/01/2021
Revisions to Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and Sector Annual Catch Entitlements; Correction
This final rule distributes sector allocation carried over from fishing year 2019 into fishing year 2020 and corrects minor errors published in the final rule approving and implementing Framework Adjustment 59
Effective
03/25/2021
Fishing Year 2020 Possession and Trip Limit Increases for the Northeast Multispecies (New England Groundfish) Common Pool Fishery
Regulatory action increases possession and trip limits for certain Northeast multispecies (groundfish) common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2020 fishing year, through April 30, 2021.
Effective
03/11/2021
Increase in Sector Carryover of 2019 Annual Catch Entitlements and Carryover of Unused Leased-in Days-at-Sea by Common Pool Vessels
This temporary rule implements emergency measures under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to revise portions of the fishing year 2019 carryover provisions in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.
Effective
12/31/2020
Interim Final Rule; Fishing Year 2020 Recreational Management Measures for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
This rule sets fishing year 2020 recreational management measures for Gulf of Maine cod and haddock. The measures are intended to ensure the recreational fishery achieves, but does not exceed, fishing year 2020 catch limits.
Effective
08/13/2020
Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
Effective
07/28/2020
Removal of Regulations Implementing the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program
This action removes regulations that implement the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program. Eliminating the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program reduces confusion and inconsistency with other regulations.
Published
07/22/2020
2019 and 2020 Sector Operations Plans and 2019/2020 Allocation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
This rule approves Northeast multispecies sector operations plans and grants regulatory exemptions for fishing years 2019 and 2020, approves the formation of a new sector, and allocates annual catch entitlements to approved sectors for fishing year 2020.
Effective
05/01/2020
Northeast Multispecies Measures for Fishing Year 2020
This action implements measures for the Northeast multispecies fishery for the 2020 fishing year. These include FY 2020 common pool possession and trip limits and measures enacted via Regional Administrator authority.
Effective
05/01/2020
Approval of New Gear Under Small-Mesh Fisheries Accountability Measures for Northeast Multispecies Fishery
NOAA Fisheries approves new selective trawl gear for use in several non-groundfish fisheries when subject to the Georges Bank yellowtail flounder accountability measure.
Effective
04/06/2020
Possession and Trip Limit Increases for the Northeast Multispecies (New England Groundfish) Common Pool Fishery
Regulatory action increases possession and trip limits for certain Northeast multispecies (groundfish) common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year, through April 30, 2020.
Effective
03/23/2020
Expansion of the Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas Under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
NOAA Fisheries proposes to implement modifications to the regulations implementing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan to allow vessels issued a limited access general category individual fishing quota sea scallop permit to fish
Effective
02/14/2020
2019 Southern Red Hake Possession Limit Reduction
The possession limit for southern red hake has been reduced from 5,000 lb to the incidental limit of 400 lb.
Effective
02/03/2020
Closure of the Regular B Days-at-Sea Program for the Remainder of Fishing Year 2019
This action closes the Regular B Days-at-Sea Program and prohibits the use of Regular B Days-at-Sea for all Northeast multispecies vessels for the remainder of fishing year 2019, through April 30, 2020.
Effective
12/16/2019
2019 Northern Red Hake Possession Limit Reduction
This action reduces the commercial per-trip possession limit for northern red hake for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year. Regulations governing the small-mesh multispecies fishery require this action because the northern red hake fishery is projected
Effective
09/09/2019
Framework Adjustment 58 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
This action proposes to approve and implement Framework Adjustment 58 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This rule would set 2019–2020 catch limits for 7 of the 20 multispecies (groundfish) stocks, implement new or revised rebuilding
Effective
07/18/2019
Northeast Multispecies Fishery: Fishing Year 2019 Recreational Management Measures
The 2019 Gulf of Maine cod and haddock recreational management measures have changed. We are opening a 2-week season (September 15-30) for Gulf of Maine cod, the possession limit will be 1 fish per person, and the minimum size will be 21 inches.
Effective
07/05/2019
Correction: Common Pool Gulf of Maine Winter Flounder Trip Limit
We are correcting a temporary rule that implemented measures for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the 2019 fishing year. These measures included possession and trip limits and the allocation of zero trips into the Closed Area II Yellowtail F
Effective
05/10/2019
Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Common Pool Measures for Fishing Year 2019
This action implements measures for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the 2019 fishing year. This action is necessary to ensure that the Northeast multispecies common pool fishery may achieve the optimum yield (OY) for the relevant stocks, wh
Effective
05/01/2019
Northeast Multispecies Fishery: Witch Flounder Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery
This action closes the Witch Flounder Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear through April 30, 2019. The closure is required because the common pool fishery is projected to have caught ov
Effective
04/12/2019
Adjustment of Georges Bank and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Yellowtail Flounder Annual Catch Limits
This action transfers unused quota of Georges Bank and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder from the Atlantic scallop fishery to the Northeast multispecies fishery for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year. This quota transfer is authori
Effective
03/21/2019
Gulf of Maine Cod and Witch Flounder Trip Limit Increases for the Common Pool Fishery
This action increases the possession and trip limits of Gulf of Maine cod and witch flounder for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year, in order to provide the common pool fishery greater opportunity to harv
Effective
03/13/2019
Small-Mesh Multispecies Fishery: Inseason Adjustment to the Northern Red Hake Possession Limit
This action reduces that the commercial per-trip possession limit for northern red hake for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year. Regulations governing the small-mesh multispecies fishery require this action because the northern red hake fishery is proj
Effective
02/27/2019
Updated Groundfish Annual Catch Limits for Sectors and the Common Pool for Fishing Year 2018
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), this final rule adjusts the 2018 fishing year allocations to sectors and the common pool specified in Framework Adjustment 57 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan;
Published
02/05/2019
Small-Mesh Multispecies Fishery: Inseason Adjustment to the Southern Red Hake Possession Limit
NOAA Fisheries announces that the commercial per-trip possession limit for southern red hake has been reduced for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year. Regulations governing the small-mesh multispecies fishery require this action to prevent the southern
Effective
12/26/2018
Final Action to Close Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to Gillnet Gear
NOAA Fisheries closes Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to gillnet gear.
Effective
12/17/2018
Georges Bank Cod Trip Limit Adjustment for the Common Pool Fishery
This action adjusts the possession and trip limits of Georges Bank cod for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year, in order to ensure that the common pool fishery is able to harvest, but not exceed, its annua
Effective
11/29/2018
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: 2018-2020 Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications
NOAA Fisheries issues final 2018 and projected 2019-2020 specifications for the small-mesh multispecies fishery, and corrects an error from a previous action. The specifications are necessary to establish allowable catch limits for each stock within the f
Effective
06/14/2018
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Fishing Year 2018 Recreational Management Measures
This action adjusts recreational management measures for Georges Bank cod and maintains status quo measures for Gulf of Maine cod and haddock for the 2018 fishing year. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and to achieve t
Effective
05/01/2018
Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2
This action implements approved regulations for the New England Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. This rule revises essential fish habitat and habitat area of particular concern designations, revises or creates habit
Effective
04/09/2018