CRD 02-02 Table 1. A brief chronology of management measures affecting Gulf
of Maine cod.
1973
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits implemented by the International Commission
for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) for Division 5Y (Gulf of Maine)
cod.
- Minimum codend mesh size at 4 ½" (114 mm).
1977
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA) implemented. Management
under the auspices of the New England Fishery Management Council.
1977-1982
Management of groundfish resources under the Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) for Atlantic groundfish. Carried forward TACs; implemented by vessel
tonnage class and calendar quarter with trip limits.
- Minimum codend mesh size increased to 5 1/8" (130 mm).
1982-1985
Management of groundfish resources under the "Interim" Plan for Atlantic
groundfish.
- Eliminated direct catch controls; primary tools for fishery management were
minimum mesh sizes and minimum landing sizes.
1983
Minimum codend mesh size increased to 5 ½" (140 mm).
1986
Northeast Multi-species FMP implemented . Amendments 1-4 retained
indirect controls, including minimum mesh and minimum fish landing sizes.
1989
Minimum fish size = 19" (48 cm) for commercial and recreational sectors.
1994
January 1 Amendment 5
- 50% reduction in F and effort over 5-7 years.
- Days at Sea (DAS) monitoring
- Implemented a Mandatory Reporting Scheme
May 1 Amendment 5 (again)
- Minimum codend mesh size increased to 6" (152 mm), diamond or square.
1996
May 1 Amendment 7
- Established rebuilding program based on Fmax target fishing mortality
- Established Target TACs
- Accelerated Days at Sea reductions
- Established Framework Adjustment Process and the Multi-species Monitoring
Committee to permit annual adjustments to management measures
- Minimum fish size increased to 20" (51 cm) for recreational sector.
1997
May 1 Framework 20
- Target TAC: 2,605 mt
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit: 1,000 or 1,500 lbs/day
- Minimum fish size increased to 21" (53 cm) for recreational sector.
1998
May 1 Framework 25
- Target TAC: 1,800 mt with trigger provision
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit 700 lbs/day
- Series of 1-month rolling closures from Massachusetts Bay to Penobscot Bay.
- Year-round closure of portions of Jeffreys Ledge and Stellwagen Bank (WGOM
Closed Area)
June 25 Framework trigger pulled
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit: 400 lbs/day
1999
February 1 Framework 26
- Additional month-block (30x30 minutes) closures implemented for February
and April
May 1 Framework 27
- Target TAC: 1,300 mt with trigger provision
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit: 200 lbs/day
- Minimum square mesh increased to 6.5" (165 mm).
May 28 Framework trigger pulled
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit: 30 lbs/day
August 3 Interim Rule
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit: 100 lbs/day
2000
January 5 Framework 31
- Gulf of Maine cod trip limit: 400 lbs/day- 4,000 maximum/trip.
- Additional month-block (30x30 minutes) closures implemented for February
May 1 Framework 33
- Target TAC: 1,900 mt with trigger provision
- Continuation of most Framework 27 and 31 measures
- Year-round closure of WGOM area extended until April, 2002.
November 1 Framework trigger pulled
- One-month closure of Cashes Ledge
2001
January 1 Framework trigger pulled
- Additional month-block (30x30 minutes) closures implemented for January
May 1 Annual Adjustment
- Target TAC: 1,118 mt
- Continuation of most Framework 27 and 31, and 33 measures.
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