Northeast Groundfish

The fishery management plan governing the groundfishery in federal waters off the northeastern United States is developed through the New England Fishery Management Council in cooperation with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service. The plan measures are implemented by the NMFS Northeast Regional Office. The NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center conducts substantial research and analyses important for evaluating groundfish stock and fishery conditions. Refer to this page for newly available NMFS scientific, technical, and other information related to this important species complex.
Groundfish Science & Stock Status	Trawl Survey Performance
Management	Press Releases/Media Advisories
SAW/SARC
Groundfish Science & Stock Status: Reports and Peer Reviews
Reports 2005 Assessment of 19 Northeast groundfish stocks through 2004. 2005 Groundfish Assessment Review Meeting (2005 GARM), Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 15-19 August 2005 Presentation on 2005 GARM results made to New England Fishery Management Council, September 15, 2005 Cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder transboundary stock component status reports from the 2005 Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee (TRAC) 2004 Cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder transboundary stock component status reports from the 2004 Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee (TRAC) 2003 Proceedings of the Seventh Meeting of the Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC), Woods Hole, Massachusetts, May 27-29, 2003 37th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (37th SAW) Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) Consensus Summary of Assessments (Witch Flounder Section) 37th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (37th SAW) Advisory Report (Witch Flounder Section) Assessment of the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank witch flounder stock for 2003 2002 Assessment of 20 Northeast Groundfish Stocks through 2001 - A Report of the Groundfish Assessment Review Meeting (GARM) Final Report of the Working Group on Re-Evaluation of Biological Reference Points for New England Groundfish Report of the 36th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (36th SAW): Public Review Workshop Report of the 36th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (36th SAW): Consensus Summary of Assessments Stock assessment of yellowtail flounder in the Cape Cod - Gulf of Maine area Stock Assessment of yellowtail flounder in the Southern New England - Mid-Atlantic Area Relative distribution and abundance of Atlantic cod, 1979-2005 Amendment 13 Groundfish Science Review February 2003 Development of Amendment 13 required substantial updates and revisions to methods for estimating population status and dynamics, and to our understanding of the statutory requirements for stock rebuilding and ending overfishing. During the development of this information, the NEFSC also discovered that the research trawl gear used aboard the NOAA R/V Albatross IV was not properly rigged over several survey cruises. This raised questions about whether data from these surveys could to be incorporated into the overall assessment or the plan. The Center conducted a series of assessment methods updates, benchmark stock assessments, and an analysis of the utility of survey data collected with the improperly rigged trawl gear. Then, an external peer review panel was convened to evaluate the results. Documentation of what was reviewed and the reviewer reports are posted below. Response to Peer Review Comments: Cover Letter Comment Index Response Reviewer Reports: Dr. Ewen Bell Dr. Robin Cook Dr. Murdoch McAllister Dr. Robert Mohn Dr. Andrew Payne -- Summary Document Terms of Reference Agenda Reviewers Publications: Final Report of the Working Group on Re-Evaluation of Biological Reference Points for New England Groundfish Report of the Workshop on Trawl Warp Effects on Fishing Gear Performance Assessment of 20 Northeast Groundfish Stocks through 2001 - A Report of the Groundfish Assessment Review Meeting (GARM) Results of the Survey Trawl Experimental Cruises Draft -- The 36^th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) Advisory Report on Stock Status Review of Amendment 13 A13 DEIS Economic and Socioeconomic Sections January 2004 When the draft EIS (DEIS) for Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (the groundfish plan) was made available, there were many questions about its conclusions regarding short-run and long-run effects of contemplated actions both overall, and on various fishing communities. NOAA Fisheries Service agreed with those who called for additional steps to ensure that these analyses are adequate and robust. Thus, an additional peer review of these sections in the draft document has been arranged. For more on this, see William Hogarth's testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (October 22, 2003), particularly the section entitled "Economic Impacts of the Amendment 13 Options." (See "Other Relevant Documents," below.) To complete the external review as quickly and thoroughly as possible, NOAA Fisheries Service developed terms of reference and a list of qualified professionals who were not involved in development or evaluation of the Amendment, and selected three independent reviewers who will finished their work in January 2004. Documentation of what was reviewed and the reviewer reports are posted below. Reviewer Reports Prof. Susan Hanna Mr. Marcus Hartley Prof. Linda Lucas Final Agenda (PDF file) Presentations to External Panel of Reviewers: Overview Available Data Commercial Data Cost Data Recreational Data Long Term Impacts Overview Biological Models Price Analysis Net Benefits Short Term Impacts Area Closure Model Analysis of Revenue Change Regional Impacts Hard TAC Analysis Break-Even Analysis Recreational Analysis On-Going Research Social Impact Assessments Reviewers (PDF file) Terms of Reference (PDF file) Source Documentation for Review Draft Environmental Impact Statement – See "Draft Amendment 13": http://www.nefmc.org/nemulti/index.html Other Relevant Documents Testimony NOAA Fisheries' Director William Hogarth's testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard , October 22, 2003 (particularly the section entitled "Economic Impacts of the Amendment 13 Options") http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=969&wit_id=2738 Standards Regulatory Flexibility Act Paperwork Reduction Act Administrative Procedures Act All can be accessed here: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/public_laws/acts.html Executive Order 12866 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/eo12866.pdf NOAA Fisheries Guidelines on Conducting Economic Assessments of FMPs http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/reg_svcs/index.htm Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (M-SA), http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/magact/ National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/nepanet.htm Other Documents Final Amendment 13
Trawl Survey Performance
Trawl Survey Design for the R/V Bigelow Resolving issues related to improper rigging of trawl gear during 2000-2002, affecting eight resource surveys NEFSC Activities Analyses of effects Sections 3, 4, and appendices Summary of Peer Review of conclusions
Management
NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Office Amendment 13 Updates Record of Decision, March 18, 2004. Proposed Rule for Amendment 13 (Federal Register, January 29, 2004) Final Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP Settlement Agreement, CLF et al. v. Daley Management measures until Amendment 13: (Permit holder letters; for actual regulatory language go here: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/ro/doc/the648.htm) June 27, 2003 January 31, 2003 August 16, 2002 (correction) July 31, 2002 (commercial) July 31, 2002 (party/charter/rec) May 31, 2002 April 29, 2002 Timeline for amendment development
Press Releases/Media Advisories
Science and Stock Status Sept. 13, 2005 NOAA Issues Report on Status of New England Groundfish June 15, 2005 Scientists and Fishermen To Tag 7,000 Yellowtail February 2, 2004 Haddock Baby Boom Detected on Georges Bank September 5, 2003 First Year Pays Off in Yellowtail Flounder Tagging Project July 7, 2003 Yellowtail Flounder "Knowledge and Cash Lottery" Kicks Off October 25, 2002 Groundfish Data Stand Up in Statistical Analysis August 27, 2002 NOAA Seeks Cod Tagging Partners August 15, 2002 Fisheries and Mariculture Revenues Top $1 Billion March 19, 2002 Scientists Re-Examine Groundfish Reference Points September 7, 2001 Press Invited To Fisheries Science Panel August 3, 2001 Northeast Fisheries and Mariculture Top $1.1 Billion April 16, 2001 Scientists Set Odds for Rebuilding Stocks Trawl Survey Performance September 24, 2002 Trawl Survey Website Established September 11, 2002 Error Found and Corrected in Scientific Survey Gear Management January 14, 2005 NOAA Reopens Georges Bank to Groundfishing November 18, 2004 NOAA Fisheries Expands Uses for Northeast Groundfish B-Days July 26, 2004 NOAA Fisheries Awards $1.8 Million to Groundfish Research Team April 19, 2004 - Northeast Groundfish Rules Ready on Schedule January 29, 2004 NOAA Fisheries Updates Court on Groundfish Actions December 5, 2003 NOAA Fisheries Director Applauds Council Action on Amendment 13 July 10, 2003 NOAA Fisheries Will Not Implement Pilot DAS Leasing Program November 5, 2002 NOAA Fisheries, Plaintiffs Seek Extension May 23, 2002 Judge Accepts Settlement Agreement May 10, 2002 NOAA Fisheries Asks Judge To Reconsider April 26, 2002 Judge Issues Remedial Order on Groundfish April 25, 2002 NOAA Fisheries Announces Interim Groundfish Regulations April 16, 2002 NOAA Fisheries Supports Groundfish Settlement April 1, 2002 NOAA Fisheries Makes Filings in Groundfish Lawsuit March 20, 2002 Groundfish Permit Buy-Out Program Completed March 4, 2002 NMFS Files Groundfish Remedy with Federal Court January 17, 2002 NOAA Fisheries To Buy Fishing Permits April 23, 2001 Advice Sought on $10 Million Buyout