Northeast Fishery Gets New Rules to Save Cod Populations
Published Date: 3/18/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
This update affects fishermen and fish lovers in the Northeast by changing how Atlantic cod stocks are managed to stop overfishing and help fish populations grow. It sets new rules for both commercial and recreational fishing, aiming for a healthy balance that benefits everyone. Comments on these changes are open until April 17, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 6 costs, 2 mixed.
2026-2027 Catch Limits Established
The rule proposes specific Overfishing Limits (OFLs) and U.S. Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) for the cod stocks for fishing years 2026 and 2027. Examples for 2026: EGOM OFL = 50 mt and U.S. ABC = 39 mt; WGOM OFL = 603 mt and U.S. ABC = 460 mt; GB OFL = 433 mt and U.S. ABC = 106 mt; SNE OFL = 47 mt and U.S. ABC = 36 mt. Some 2027 projections are also listed (for example, WGOM 2027 OFL = 769 mt, U.S. ABC = 586 mt).
Cod Stock Units Split to Four
The rule changes the Atlantic cod management areas from two stocks to four named stocks: Eastern Gulf of Maine (EGOM), Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM), Georges Bank (GB), and Southern New England (SNE). Those four stock areas would be codified and used for possession limits, minimum sizes, sector quotas, and other management actions.
New Stock Status Criteria Set
The rule would set numeric Status Determination Criteria (SDCs) for the four cod stocks. Biomass targets use an SSBMSY proxy with a minimum biomass of 1/2 BMSY, and maximum fishing mortality threshold is set at F = 40 percent below the FMSY proxy; numerical BMSY and FMSY proxy estimates are provided for each stock (for example, WGOM BMSY = 62,677 mt and FMSY = 0.19).
Recreational Shares for WGOM and SNE
The rule proposes allocating 27.5 percent of the WGOM cod ABC to the recreational fishery and allocating 73.5 percent of the SNE cod ABC to the recreational fishery (after reductions for State and other Federal fisheries where applicable).
Management Uncertainty Buffers Set
The rule proposes management uncertainty buffers that reduce sub-ACLs: recreational sub-ACLs have a 7-percent buffer and commercial sub-ACLs generally have a 5-percent buffer. For GB cod, a 5-percent buffer is proposed for fishing year 2025, and for SNE cod the sector buffer would remain even under 100-percent at-sea monitoring targets.
Trimester TACs and 90% Closure Rule
Common pool sub-ACLs would be distributed into trimester TACs by stock (for example, EGOM trimester distribution 80%/10%/10%, WGOM 55%/22%/23%). If NMFS projects that 90 percent of a trimester TAC is caught for a stock, the Trimester TAC Area for that stock would be closed for the remainder of the trimester.
Common Pool Trip Possession Limits
The rule proposes daily and trip possession limits for common pool permits in 2026: EGOM cod — 25 lb (11 kg) per DAS and 25 lb (11 kg) per trip (up to 50 lb/23 kg for some trips); WGOM cod — 50 lb (23 kg) per DAS and 50 lb per trip (some trips up to 100 lb/45 kg); GB cod — 25 lb (11 kg) per DAS and per trip (up to 50 lb/23 kg); SNE cod — possession prohibited (0 lb per trip).
Recreational Size, Bag, and Season Rules
The rule proposes recreational measures for WGOM, GB, and EGOM cod of a 23-inch (58.4 cm) minimum size, a possession limit of one fish (for-hire and private), and open seasons May 1–May 31 and September 1–October 31. For SNE cod the rule proposes zero retention (closed to recreational retention).
WGOM Commercial Apportionment Method
For WGOM cod, the commercial groundfish sub-ACL would be divided into a northern portion (68 percent) and a southern portion (32 percent) based on selected historic fishing years (2010-2012, 2017, and 2022-2023). The GOM cod PSCs would apply to the northern portion and the GB cod PSCs to the southern portion when calculating sector and common pool sub-ACLs.
Incidental Catch TACs for Special Programs
The rule proposes incidental catch TACs for common pool special management programs for the four new cod stocks. Examples for 2026 include incidental TACs of 0.01 mt for EGOM, 0.11 mt for WGOM, and 0.03 mt for GB in certain programs; percentages and program-specific distributions (e.g., GB cod 60% Regular B DAS, 40% Eastern U.S./Canada haddock SAP) are provided in tables.
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Key Dates
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