Table 1. A brief chronology of management measures affecting Gulf of Maine cod.

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.