Table 1. Management history of southern New England - Mid Atlantic yellowtail flounder.

Year

Comments

1977

FCMA implemented March 1
Groundfish plan adopts quotas for cod, haddock, yellowtail flounder

1982

Interim Groundfish Plan adopted:
11 inch minimum size for yellowtail

1986

Northeast Multispecies FMP adopted:
Minimum size for yellowtail flounder: 12 inches
Seasonal yellowtail closure, March - May, between 69-30 and 72-30W
Closed area I and II continued as spawning closures on GB

1989

Amendment 2:
Yellowtail minimum size increased to 13 inches
Seasonal large mesh area off Nantucket Shoals to protect cod

1991

Amendment 4:
Tightened restrictions on carrying small mesh while in Regulated Mesh Areas
Minimum mesh size of 5 1/2 inches in Southern New England yellowtail area

1994

Amendment 5 and emergency regulations:
December: NLCA closed year round, including to scallop dredges
DAS limits for most vessels
West of 72-30W. Mesh determined by mesh requirements of summer flounder fishery (5 1/2 inch diamond or 6 inch square)
Established Southern New England RMA, mesh of 5 1/2 inch diamond  square, to increase to 5 1/2 inch diamond or 6 inch square in year 2. Area from approximately 69-40W to 72-30 W.

1996

Amendment 7:
Extended DAS limits to most vessels
Limited possession of groundfish by scallop vessels to 300 pounds of regulated multispecies
Established criteria for exempted fisheries
Mid-Atlantic regulated mesh area fisheries exempt from bycatch certification

1999

Framework 27: (May 1)
Increased square mesh minimum size to 6 1/2 inches in GOM/GB/SNE Regulated mesh areas
Framework 29: (June)

Amendment 9: (November): Revised overfishing definitions

2000

Scallop Framework 13: Scallop vessel closed area access programs with yellowtail bycatch limits

Adopted management measures for small-mesh multispecies, establishing minimum mesh sizes and trip/possession limits to reduce mortality on silver, red, and offshore hake