CRD 01-10

Table 1. History of USA management of Atlantic cod.

1953-1977

ICNAF Era

1953

Minimum mesh in body and codend - 4 ½".

1970

Areas 1(A) and 2(B) closed during haddock spawning season; from March through April. 1972-1974 Areas 1(A) and 2(B) closure extended to March through May.

Total Allowable Catch (TAC) regulations implemented for Div. 5Z cod on an annual basis beginning in 1973-76; set at 35,000 mt per year.

1975

Areas 1(A) and 2(B) closure extended to February through May

1977-Present

Extended Jurisdiction and National Management

1977

USA Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (FCMA) effective.

1977-1982

Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic groundfish (cod, haddock and yellowtail fl.); mesh size of 5 1/8", seasonal spawning closure (areas 1 and 2), quotas established on annual, quarterly and vessel class basis, eventually leading to trip limits.

1982-1985

The "Interim Plan" for Atlantic groundfish; eliminated all catch controls, retained closed area and mesh size regulations, implemented minimum landings sizes.

1983

Mesh size increased to 5½" diamond.

1984 October

The 'Hague' line established separate fishing zones for the USA and Canada in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank.

1986 September

Fishery Management Plan for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Effective; Areas 1 and 2 closed during February 1 - May 31.
Mesh size increased to 5 ½" (yr 1+ 2), 6 " (yr 3)
Minimum size landed - commercial 17 " (yr 1), 19 " (yr 2+)
Recreational 15" (yr 1),17" (yr 2+3), 19" (yr 4+)

1989 January

Amendment # 2 - seasonal large-mesh area for Nantucket Shoals winter fishery
Eliminate scheduled 6" mesh increase.
Minimum size in recreational = commercial = 19"

1993

Area 2 closure in effect from Jan 1-June 30.

1994 January

Amendment 5: 50% reduction in effort (5-7 years)
Expanded Area 2 closure; Area 1 closure not in effect.
Days at sea (DAS) monitoring; mandatory logbook reporting.

May

6" diamond or square mesh restriction (delayed from March 1).
Fishing year May-April.

December

Both Area 1,2 and Nantucket Lightship Area closed year-round until further notice.

1996 October

Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) effective.

May

Recreational minimum size increases to 20"

July 1

Amendment 7 effective.
Establishes target TACs, rebuilding target of F0.1

1997 May

Recreational minimum size increases to 21"

1999 May
Minimum mesh size increase to 6 ½" square, remains at 6" diamond
June 15
Scallopers allowed limited access to Area II
November 15
Amendment 9 effective;
Redefines over fishing definitions to comply with SFA
August 15
Trip limit: 2000 lb/ day, 20,000 lb/trip with trigger when approach TAC
2000 May
SQ Trip limit: 2000 lb/ day, 20,000 lb/trip without trigger
Additional closures on Georges Bank for May only (109-114, 98-99),
Adjacent to Area 1

Year
USA Target TAC
(May yr - April yr+1 )
Assumed Canadian TAC Canadian TAC -5Zjm
(June-Dec yr)
1996
1,851 mt 1,000 mt 2,000 mt
1997
3,646 mt 2,000 mt 3,000 mt
1998
4,692 mt 3,000 mt 1,900 mt
1999
5,354 mt 1,900 mt 1,800 mt
2000
4,145 mt 1,900 mt 1,600 mt
2001
4,900 mt   (2,200 mt includes U.S.)

 

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(Modified Jun. 13 2008)