News & Announcements

NOAA Fisheries is setting Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod and haddock recreational measures for 2020.

Observer coverage to resume August 14.

Effective Date: July 28, 2020

NOAA Fisheries has taken action to remove the regulations implementing the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program, which will reduce confusion and inconsistency with other regulations.

The Gulf of Maine (GOM) Cod Protection Closures, sometimes referred to as “rolling closures,” remain in place. There are five of these seasonal closures, which are active during different times of the year.

This action implements measures for the Northeast multispecies fishery for the 2020 fishing year, including common pool fishery possession and trip limits and other measures enacted via Regional Administrator authority, as shown below.

Effective on March 23, 2020, NOAA Fisheries increases common pool possession and trip limits for Georges Bank (GB) cod, Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod, GOM haddock, Cape Cod (CC)/GOM yellowtail flounder, American plaice, and witch flounder.

We approved a new selective trawl gear, the large-mesh belly panel, for use in small-mesh fisheries when the fisheries accountability measure for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder is triggered.  Use of the large-mesh belly panel reduces bycatch of groundfish species of concern, such as yellowtail flounder. 

Effective February 14, 2020.

Gillnetters fishing in Nantucket Lightship Groundfish and the Closed Area I Groundfish Closure Areas must remove gear as soon as safely possible.