| CRD 03-14
Table 1. Significant changes in management regulations governing
the USA commercial fishery for witch flounder (adapted from O'Brien and
Brown, 1996), updated by Tom Nies, NEFMC (pers. comm., 2003). |
| 1953-1977 |
|
ICNAF era |
| 1953 |
|
Minimum mesh in body and codend 4 ½ inches. |
| 1970 |
|
Areas 1(A) and 2(B) closed during haddock spawning, from March - April |
| 1972-1974 |
|
Areas 1(A) and 2(B) closure extended to March - May. |
| 1975 |
|
Areas 1(A) and 2(B) closures extended to February - May. |
| 1977 - Present |
|
Extended Jurisdiction and National Management |
| 1977 |
|
USA Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (FCMA) in effect. |
| 1977-1982 |
|
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic groundfish:
Seasonal spawning closures for haddock (Areas 1 and 2), quotas for haddock,
etc. |
| 1982 |
|
Mesh size 5 1/8 inches (130 mm). |
| 1982-1985 |
|
The 'Interim Plan' for Atlantic groundfish: Eliminated all catch controls,
retained closed area and mesh size regulations, implemented minimum landing
sizes. |
| 1983 |
|
Mesh size increased to 5 ½ inches (140 mm).
Witch flounder minimum
size 33 cm.
|
| 1984 |
October |
Hague Line separating USA and Canadian fishing zones in the Gulf
of Maine and Georges Bank region. |
| 1985 |
|
Fishery Management Plan for the Multispecies Fishery. |
| 1987 |
|
Witch flounder minimum size increased to 36 cm. |
| 1991 |
|
Amendment 4 established overfishing definitions for witch flounder in
terms of Fmed (F20%) replacement levels. |
| 1993 |
|
Area 2 closure is extended from January 1 - June 30. |
| 1994 |
January |
Amendment 5 implemented: expanded Area 2, Area 1 closure not
in effect. |
| May |
6 inch (152 mm) mesh restriction implemented (delayed from March
1).
Square or diamond mesh allowed. |
| December |
Area 1, Area 2 and Nantucket Lightship Area closed year-around. |
| 1996 |
July |
Amendment 7 implemented: Days-at-sea (DAS) restrictions.
Haddock
trip limits raised to 1000 pounds |
| 1997 |
May |
Additional scheduled DAS restrictions from Amendment 7 accelerated. |
| 1998 |
May |
Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area adopted: Jeffery's Ledge area closed
to all groundfishing.
Rolling closures in the western Gulf of Maine. |
| October |
Amendment 9: revised overfishing definitions as required by Sustainable
Fisheries Act. |
| 1999 |
May |
Codend mesh regulations changed to 6-inch diamond mesh, 6 1/2-inch
square mesh.
Additional rolling closures adopted in the western Gulf of
Maine
Cashes Ledge seasonal closure adopted
Roller gear limited to a maximum of
12 inches in an area of the western Gulf
of Maine.
Gulf of Maine cod trip limit ranged from 30 to 400 lbs. in this fishing
year. |
| 2000 |
May |
May closure implementation on northern Georges Bank.
Changes to large
mesh permit category, granting additional DAS to vessels
using larger than 6-inch diamond / 6-inch square mesh. |
| 2002 |
June 1 |
Additional restrictions adopted during this fishing year (result of lawsuit
over FW33):
Vessels limited to 25% of allocated DAS May to July;
Increase in minimum mesh
size for trawl vessel to 6 ½ inch diamond/ 6 ½ inch square;
Reduced number
of rolling closures in the western Gulf of Maine (effective in January 2003,
with result there were additional rolling closures in calendar
year 2002 compared to calendar year 2001;
Cashes Ledge seasonal closure expanded
to year-around closure;
Increase in GOM cod trip limit to 500 lbs. per day/4,000
lbs per trip;
Increase in mesh size for large mesh permit category. |
| August 1 |
Reduction in allocated DAS based on past history of use for
each permit;
Front-loading of DAS clock prohibited;
Additional restrictions on number and deployment
of gillnets. |
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