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Proposed Rule2026-05250

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Amendment 25 (Revised)

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Published

March 18, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract

NMFS proposes to incorporate revised Atlantic cod stock units into the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and set status determination criteria (SDCs), specifications, and commercial and recreational management measures, for the four new cod stocks, as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). This action also proposes other recreational groundfish measures necessary for the fishery. The purpose of this proposed action is to prevent overfishing, ensure rebuilding, and help achieve optimum yield in the groundfish fisheries consistent with the status of the stocks and requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12993-13007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05250]

[[Page 12993]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 260303-0060]
RIN 0648-BO26

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Multispecies Fishery; Amendment 25 (Revised)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to incorporate revised Atlantic cod stock units
into the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and set
status determination criteria (SDCs), specifications, and commercial
and recreational management measures, for the four new cod stocks, as
recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council).
This action also proposes other recreational groundfish measures
necessary for the fishery. The purpose of this proposed action is to
prevent overfishing, ensure rebuilding, and help achieve optimum yield
in the groundfish fisheries consistent with the status of the stocks
and requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by April 17, 2026.

ADDRESSES: A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available
at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2025-1230">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2025-1230</a>. You may
submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2025-1230, by the following
method:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and type NOAA-NMFS-2025-1230 in the Search box
(note: copying and pasting the FDMS Docket Number directly from this
document may not yield search results). Click on the ``Comment'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. You may submit anonymous comments by
entering ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous.
Copies of Amendment 25, including the draft Environmental
Assessment (EA), the Regulatory Impact Review, and the Regulatory
Flexibility Act Analysis prepared by the Council in support of this
action, are available from Dr. Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2,
Newburyport, MA 01950. The supporting documents are also accessible via
the internet at: <a href="https://www.nefmc.org/management-plans/northeast-multispecies">https://www.nefmc.org/management-plans/northeast-multispecies</a> or <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Nelson, Fishery Management
Specialist, phone: 978-281-9334; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#337b5652475b56411d7d565f405c5d735d5c52521d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="88c0ede9fce0edfaa6c6ede4fbe7e6c8e6e7e9e9a6efe7fe">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northeast Multispecies FMP specifies the
management measures for 13 groundfish species, both target and non-
target. The Northeast Multispecies FMP was prepared by the Council and
is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 648,
consistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The
groundfish fishery includes recreational and commercial components, and
the members of the commercial fishery choose whether to fish as part of
the sector program or the common pool. Annually, the commercial
groundfish fishery has a value of approximately $40 million (ex-vessel
revenue from the most recent complete fishing year). Recreational
fisheries, including the recreational groundfish fishery, contribute
substantial value to the regional and national economies.

Background

Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, on behalf of the
Secretary of Commerce, NMFS approves, disapproves, or partially
approves measures that the Council proposes, based on consistency with
the Act and other applicable law. Relying on the research and
management track assessments; other scientific, commercial, and fishery
data; economic, social, and ecological information and expertise; and
public comments from numerous public meetings, the Council developed
Amendment 25 to specify Status Determination Criteria (SDC),
overfishing limits (OFL), acceptable biological catches (ABC), and
annual catch limits (ACL), and set other management measures for all
four cod stocks that are necessary to achieve optimum yield, prevent
overfishing, and ensure accountability. NMFS has published a Notice of
Availability (NOA) for Amendment 25 (91 FR 1257; January 12, 2026) that
seeks public comment on the amendment through March 16, 2026. NMFS will
consider comments received during the comment period for the Amendment
25 NOA in its decision to approve, partially approve, or disapprove
Amendment 25, and will notify the Council by letter, pursuant to
section 304(a)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
NMFS also reviews proposed regulations for consistency with the
fishery management plan, plan amendments, the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable law. NMFS is seeking comments on these proposed
regulations and, if Amendment 25 is approved in whole or in part,
intends to promulgate the final regulations after careful consideration
of any submitted comments. This proposed rule would incorporate revised
Atlantic cod stock unites and associated requirements into the
Northeast Multispecies FMP, as described in Amendment 25. This proposed
rule also includes measures not specifically in Amendment 25, but which
would be necessary for the management of the new stocks of cod, if
approved, pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The
Council reviewed the proposed regulations for Amendment 25 and deemed
them consistent with, and necessary to implement, Amendment 25 in a
December 5, 2025, letter from Council Chairman Daniel Salerno to
Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator Michael Pentony, pursuant to
section 303(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS may consider comments
submitted in response to this proposed rule in making a final decision
to approve, partially approve, or disapprove Amendment 25 to the extent
those comments are received during the NOA comment period. Consistent
with Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements, NMFS will consult with the
Council before making any revisions to the proposed regulations, if
necessary, and will publish an explanation of any differences between
the proposed and final regulations.
Under Magnuson-Stevens Act section 304(b)(1)(A), NMFS is required
to publish proposed regulations consistent

[[Page 12994]]

with the Council's recommendations, with such legal changes as may be
necessary for clarity and an explanation of those changes for public
comment). Therefore, through Amendment 25, and based on Council
recommendations on transitioning the FMP from two stocks of cod to four
stocks, NMFS proposes to:
<bullet> Incorporate the revised Atlantic cod stock unit
definitions for Georges Bank (GB) cod, Eastern Gulf of Maine (EGOM)
cod, Western GOM (WGOM) cod, and Southern New England (SNE) Atlantic
cod into the Northeast Multispecies FMP;
<bullet> Set status determination criteria (SDC) for the Atlantic
cod stocks;
<bullet> Set specifications including catch limits for four cod
stocks: GB cod for fishing year 2026; and EGOM cod, WGOM cod, SNE cod
for fishing year 2026-2027;
<bullet> Define the apportionment method for setting the WGOM cod
commercial sub-annual catch level (ACL);
<bullet> Establish the management uncertainty buffers for the
Atlantic cod stocks;
<bullet> Set recreational sub-ACLs for WGOM cod and SNE cod;
<bullet> Establish common pool trimester total allowable catch
(TAC) distributions, TAC closure areas, and baseline common pool trip
limits for the Atlantic cod stocks;
<bullet> Set recreational measures for SNE cod; and
<bullet> Establish a regulatory process for the Regional
Administrator to set recreational measures for GB and EGOM cod for
fishing year 2026.
In addition to the measures recommended by the Council in Amendment
25, this action also proposes measures that are not part of Amendment
25, but that may be considered and implemented under section 305(d)
authority in the Magnuson-Stevens Act to make changes necessary to
carry out the FMP. Through this rulemaking, NMFS proposes to set
recreational management measures for WGOM, EGOM, and GB cod. Proposing
these measures concurrently with Amendment 25 is intended to streamline
the implementation because the measures are dependent on the proposed
new stocks of cod being incorporated into the FMP.
The regulatory changes proposed in this rulemaking build upon the
regulatory changes proposed in Framework Adjustment 69 to the FMP (90
FR 56836; December 8, 2025). The proposed regulatory changes below
presume the implementation of the Framework 69 regulatory changes,
rather than the current regulatory text.

Atlantic Cod Stock Unit Definitions

Since the initial development of the Northeast Multispecies FMP in
1985, the fishery has been managed based on two Atlantic cod biological
stock units: Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod and GB cod. Amendment 25 would
revise the FMP to reflect four cod biological stock units as defined in
the 2023 Research Track Assessment of Atlantic Cod: EGOM cod; WGOM cod;
GB cod; and SNE cod. A peer review of the 2023 research track
assessment accepted the outcomes of that assessment and its
determination on the four-stock unit structure for cod, and this
represents the best scientific information available. A copy of the
Summary Report of the Atlantic Cod Research Track Stock Assessment Peer
Review is available at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3//2023-08/PanelSummaryReportoftheAtlanticCodRTPeerReviewAugust172023-mlt-508-8-23-23ajd-508gw.pdf">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3//2023-08/PanelSummaryReportoftheAtlanticCodRTPeerReviewAugust172023-mlt-508-8-23-23ajd-508gw.pdf</a>.
In order to implement the management areas for the four new cod
stocks, which are used for possession limits, minimum sizes, sector
quotas, and other programs that are part of the Northeast Multispecies
FMP, this action would define the geographical areas for the four cod
stocks and management units (see figure 1). These areas would be
codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (see the proposed
regulatory text below).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP18MR26.000

[[Page 12995]]

Figure 1--Map of New Atlantic Cod Stock Units

Status Determination Criteria

Section 303(a)(10) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires FMPs to
specify objective and measurable criteria, i.e., SDCs, for identifying
when a stock is overfished or is experiencing overfishing. Amendment 25
proposes to establish SDCs for EGOM, WGOM, GB, and SNE cod, and provide
numerical estimates of these criteria, in order to incorporate the
results of the 2024 stock assessments and based on the peer review
recommendations from the 2024 stock assessments. Table 1 provides the
proposed SDCs for EGOM, WGOM, GB and SNE cod, and table 2 provides the
resulting numerical estimates of the SDCs. These numerical estimates
would be updated in subsequent stock assessments, as needed.

Table 1--Proposed Status Determination Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biomass target
Stock (SSBMSY or proxy) Minimum biomass Maximum fishing mortality threshold
threshold (FMSY or proxy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM cod........................ SSBMSY proxy....... \1/2\ BMSY......... F-40 percent of proxy.
WGOM cod........................ SSBMSY proxy....... \1/2\ BMSY......... F-40 percent of proxy.
GB cod.......................... SSBMSY proxy....... \1/2\ BMSY......... F-40 percent of proxy.
SNE cod......................... SSBMSY proxy....... \1/2\ BMSY......... F-40 percent of proxy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSB = spawning stock biomass; MSY = maximum sustainable yield; B = biomass; F = fishing mortality.

Table 2--Numerical Estimates of Status Determination Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BMSY or proxy FMSY or proxy
Stock Model/approach (mt) MSY (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM cod.............................. WHAM..................... 2,184 0.27 476
WGOM cod.............................. WHAM..................... 62,677 0.19 11,271
GB cod................................ WHAM..................... 8,290 0.23 1,930
SNE cod............................... WHAM..................... 11,258 0.12 1,317
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAM = Woods Hole Assessment Model; mt = metric tons.

Specifications for Fishing Years 2026-2027

Overfishing Limits and Acceptable Biological Catches

A stock's OFL is calculated to set the maximum amount of fish that
can be caught in a year without constituting overfishing. The ABC is
typically set lower than the OFL to account for scientific uncertainty,
although it may be set up to the OFL. For GB cod, because the stock
unit extends into the Canadian EEZ, the ABC available to the U.S. must
account for Canadian catch in the Canadian EEZ; therefore, the stock-
wide ABC is reduced to account for Canadian catch, and the amount
remaining after the adjustment for Canadian catch is the U.S. ABC. The
proposed GB cod ABC may be revised through Framework 72 to the FMP, on
which the Council voted on December 3, 2025, to submit to NMFS for
approval. If approved, the Framework 72 GB cod ABC would replace and
increase the GB cod ABC proposed here.
Through Amendment 25, the Council recommends catch limits for GB
cod for the 2026 fishing year and EGOM cod, WGOM cod, SNE cod for the
2026-2027 fishing years, based on stock assessments completed in 2024
(see table 3). Specifications for fishing year 2027 are projections
that would be considered and reaffirmed or adjusted in the annual
framework adjustment for 2027. A brief summary of how these catch
limits were developed is provided below. More details on the proposed
catch limits for each groundfish stock can be found in appendix II
(Calculation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Limits, FY 2026-FY
2027) of the Amendment 25 draft EA (see ADDRESSES for information on
how to access this document).

Table 3--Proposed Fishing Years 2026-2027 Overfishing Limits and Acceptable Biological Catches for Atlantic Cod
Stocks
[mt, live weight]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026 2027
Stock ---------------------------------------------------------------
OFL U.S. ABC OFL U.S. ABC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod........................................ 50 39 39 30
WGOM Cod........................................ 603 460 769 586
GB Cod *........................................ 433 106 .............. ..............
SNE Cod......................................... 47 36 65 36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: An empty cell indicates no OFL/ABC is adopted for that year. These catch limits would be set in a future
action.
* If approved, Framework 72 would replace these specifications with an OFL of 473 mt and a U.S. ABC of 151 mt.

[[Page 12996]]

Annual Catch Limits

Development of Annual Catch Limits
The U.S. ABC for each stock in the Northeast Multispecies FMP is
divided among the various fishery components to account for all sources
of fishing mortality. For stocks with a recreational allocation, the
U.S. ABC is first divided between the commercial and recreational
fisheries, before being further divided into sub-components and sub-
ACLs. An estimate of catch expected from State waters and the other
sub-component (e.g., Federal commercial non-groundfish fisheries and
some recreational groundfish fisheries, if there is not a recreational
allocation) is deducted from the U.S. ABC. The remaining portion of the
U.S. ABC is distributed to the fishery components that receive an
allocation for the stock. Components of the fishery that receive an
allocation have a sub-ACL set by reducing their portion of the ABC (the
sub-ABC) to account for management uncertainty and are subject to
accountability measures (AM) if they exceed their respective catch
limit during the fishing year. This process is described fully in
appendix II of the Amendment 25 draft EA (see ADDRESSES).
For each stock allocated to sectors, the commercial groundfish sub-
ACL is further divided into the non-sector (common pool) sub-ACL and
the sector sub-ACL, based on the total vessel enrollment in sectors and
the cumulative potential sector contributions (PSC) associated with
those sectors. This action does not change an individual's qualifying
fishing history or the manner in which an individual vessel's PSC
contributes to a sector's cumulative PSC. The preliminary sector and
common pool sub-ACLs proposed in this action are based on fishing year
2025 PSCs and fishing year 2025 sector rosters; final allocations to
reflect 2026 PSCs and rosters would be provided in a future action.
Tables 4 and 5 provide the proposed catch limits for the 2026 and 2027
fishing years.
Amendment 25's proposal to implement the transition from two to
four stocks of Atlantic cod would require updates to the current system
of setting catch limits for the cod stocks, including setting
recreational sub-ACLs as needed, developing a method for applying a
sector's PSCs to the new cod stocks, and establishing management
uncertainty buffers for the new cod stocks. Measures separate from
specification setting, such as establishing common pool AMs and
possession limits, are described in the relevant sections later in this
preamble.
Recreational Allocations
Amendment 25 proposes to create a recreational sub-ACL for WGOM
cod, and allocate 27.5 percent of the WGOM cod ABC to the recreational
fishery. The remaining 72.5 percent of the ABC would be distributed
between commercial fisheries, including commercial groundfish, State,
and other Federal fisheries. This recreational allocation would reflect
the 2001 through 2006 catch data from the new WGOM cod stock area.
Previously, Amendment 16 (75 FR 18262; April 9, 2010) established a
recreational sub-ACL for GOM cod based on the proportional amount of
recreational and commercial catch from 2001 through 2006 for the old
GOM cod stock area. While most recreational catch within the WGOM cod
stock area comes from the northern portion (previously the GOM stock
area), recalculating the proportional catch for the full WGOM stock
area reflects a better representation of the historical catch levels
for the WGOM stock area when determining the appropriate proportion of
the overall WGOM cod ABC to allocate to the recreational fishery.
Amendment 25 also proposes a recreational sub-ACL for SNE cod, and
allocates 73.5 percent of the SNE cod ABC to the recreational fishery,
after first reducing the ABC to account for catch from State and other
Federal fisheries. The remaining 26.5 percent would be allocated to the
commercial groundfish fishery. This recreational allocation was
developed by the Council to fairly balance the proportion of catch from
the SNE cod stock area from recreational and commercial fisheries,
using the most recent 5 years of catch data, and the estimated amount
of catch that the commercial fishery is expected to achieve in the
upcoming fishing year. Both commercial and recreational catch are
evaluated using the same time period, a period during which both
fisheries were subject to restrictions on catch, to determine the
amount of these stocks caught by each fishery. A recreational
allocation of SNE cod is necessary to provide accountability to every
segment of the fishery that catches this stock, and to develop more
segment-specific management measures that more effectively reduce
fishing mortality for such segments.
The use of a SNE cod recreational sub-ACL is intended to be
reasonably calculated to promote conservation. If an overage of a sub-
ACL or ACL occurs, AMs help to correct operational issues that cause
overages and biological consequences resulting from overages. Because
the existing reactive and proactive recreational AMs (that provide a
regulatory process for the Regional Administrator to adjust
recreational measures on an annual basis) are applicable to any
groundfish stock with a recreational sub-ACL, the establishment of a
recreational sub-ACL for SNE cod would apply these AMs to the SNE cod
stock, if the sub-ACL is exceeded. These AMs are expected to help
correct operational issues and better ensure sub-ACLs are not exceeded.
Without a recreational sub-ACL, excessive catch by the recreational
fishery that contributes to an ACL overage would require pound-for-
pound payback by the commercial fishery.
Commercial Allocations
For the purpose of allocating to sectors and common pool vessels,
Amendment 25 proposes to continue to use the existing PSCs for the
previous GOM and GB cod stocks, and apply them to the commercial
groundfish sub-ACL to calculate the sector and common pool sub-ACLs as
follows. For EGOM cod, the GOM cod PSCs would be used. For the revised
GB cod and SNE cod, the GB cod PSCs would be used. This is because, for
each of these stocks, the new stock area falls completely within the
old stock area on which the PSC is based.
Unlike the other three new stock areas, the WGOM cod stock area is
made up of three statistical areas (513, 514, 515) that were in the GOM
cod stock area and three statistical areas (521, 526, 541) that were in
the old GB cod stock area (see figure 1). Therefore, it was necessary
to develop an apportionment approach that applies existing sector
cumulative PSCs to the new stock area to approximate sector vessels'
catch performances in the old stock areas as closely as practicable,
while facilitating effective conservation and management of the new
stocks. Amendment 25 proposes to divide the commercial groundfish sub-
ACL for WGOM cod into a northern and southern portion, which correspond
to the areas previously within the GOM cod and old GB cod stock areas,
respectively, using a proportion of historic commercial groundfish
fishery catch that came from the two areas.
In order to balance the historic catch levels with the differences
in quotas and fishing opportunities between the two stock areas,
Amendment 25 proposes to include a sub-set of the fishing years for the
historic catch. Specifically, based on input from the fishing industry,
catch from fishing years 2010-2012, 2017, and 2022-2023 were considered
to best

[[Page 12997]]

account for differences between the GOM and old GB cod stocks,
differences in ACLs over the time period, and differences in fishing
opportunities, practices, and equities between vessels operating in the
north and south portions of the WGOM stock area. The potential for the
historical commercial sub-ACL to have an outsized effect on the
relative catch in the two old stock areas is minimized by limiting the
criteria to fishing years where the commercial sub-ACL of one stock was
less than twice the other stock and by averaging multiple years of
catch performance covering an extended period of sector system
operations. The result is 68 percent from the northern portion and 32
percent from the southern portion. More information regarding the
analyses conducted to support this decision is included in appendix III
(Development of Phase I Cod Transition--Sector Allocation Bridge
Approach) of the Amendment 25 draft EA.
The WGOM cod commercial groundfish sub-ACL would be divided based
on these percentages, and the GOM cod and GB cod PSCs would be applied
to the northern and southern portions, respectively, before being
recombined to calculate total WGOM cod sector and common pool sub-ACLs.
Therefore, a sector would be allocated WGOM cod on the basis of its GOM
cod and GB cod PSC, and could fish that quota throughout the WGOM cod
stock area. These measures are expected to facilitate catch accounting
and accountability that would help achieve biological conservation,
manage stocks at sustainable levels, and achieve OY while maintaining
historic fishing opportunities.
Management Uncertainty Buffers
Amendment 16 set management uncertainty buffers for each of the
groundfish stocks. For the new cod stocks, Amendment 25 proposes to use
the same approach established by Amendment 16. Recreational sub-ACLs
have a 7-percent buffer applied; commercial sub-ACLs generally have a
5-percent buffer. Although Amendment 16 set a lower buffer for certain
stocks that do not have a state waters component, Amendment 25 proposes
to set the fishing year 2025 GB cod management uncertainty buffer at 5
percent given the increased uncertainty caused by the lack of agreement
on the shared United States/Canada quota. Amendment 25 also proposes
that for SNE cod, the sector management uncertainty buffer should be
left in place even under a 100-percent at-sea monitoring (ASM) coverage
target. The annual framework will provide more information regarding
the ASM target coverage level ahead of the 2026 fishing year, and
explain how sector allocations could change based on that target and
any associated buffer changes.
Sector Allocations
NMFS calculates the sector's allocation for each stock by summing
its members' PSCs for a stock and then multiplying that total
percentage by the available commercial sub-ACL for that stock. Table 6
shows the total GOM cod and GB cod PSCs for each sector, by stock, for
fishing year 2025 based on 2025 sector rosters. It also provides the
proposed allocations of EGOM, WGOM, GB, and SNE cod that each sector
would be allocated, in metric tons (mt) and thousands of pounds (lb),
for fishing year 2026, under the specifications proposed in this
action. The proposed common pool sub-ACLs are also included in table 6
for comparison.
Common Pool Total Allowable Catches
The common pool sub-ACL for each allocated stock (except for SNE/MA
winter flounder) is further divided into trimester TACs. The Trimester
TAC AM for the common pool fishery requires that, once NMFS projects
that 90 percent of the trimester TAC is caught for a stock, the
trimester TAC area for that stock will be closed for the remainder of
the trimester. These closures apply to all common pool vessels fishing
on a groundfish trip with gear capable of catching the pertinent stock.
Any uncaught portion of the TAC in Trimester 1 or Trimester 2 is
carried forward to the next trimester. Overages of the Trimester 1 or
Trimester 2 TAC are deducted from the Trimester 3 TAC. Any overages of
the total common pool sub-ACL are deducted from the following fishing
year's common pool sub-ACL for that stock. Uncaught portions of any
trimester TAC may not be carried over into the following fishing year.
The distribution of the common pool sub-ACLs into trimesters was
adopted in Amendment 16 to the FMP and was based on landing patterns at
that time. Framework Adjustment 57 to the FMP (83 FR 18985; May 1,
2018) subsequently updated the trimester TAC distributions for GB cod
and GOM cod, as well as other groundfish stocks, to reflect changes in
landing patterns and to prevent early trimester closures.
Amendment 25 proposes trimester TAC distributions for the EGOM cod,
WGOM cod, SNE cod, and GB cod common pool sub-ACLs. Table 7 includes
proposed trimester TAC distributions for these four stocks. For WGOM
cod and SNE cod, these distributions were developed following the
process outlined in Amendment 16, using common pool catch by trimester
over the most recent 5-year period for which data are available,
fishing years 2019 through 2023. For EGOM cod and GB cod, landings and
trips were low during this time period. As a result, the proposed
trimester TAC distribution for these stocks were modified from the
Amendment 16 process to more evenly distribute the common pool sub-ACL
for these stocks and ensure a minimum amount in each trimester. Table 8
summarizes the Atlantic cod common pool trimester TACs proposed in this
action, based on fishing year 2026 rosters.
Incidental catch TACs are also specified for certain stocks of
concern (i.e., stocks that are overfished or subject to overfishing)
for common pool vessels fishing in the special management programs
(i.e., special access programs (SAP) and the Regular B Days-at-Sea
(DAS) Program), in order to limit the catch of these stocks under each
program. To reflect the transition from two to four cod stocks, this
action proposes to specify incidental TACs for the four new cod stocks
(tables 9-11).

Table 4--Proposed Catch Limits for the 2026 Fishing Year
[mt, live weight]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Midwater Small- State
Stock Total Groundfish Sector pool sub- Recreational trawl Scallop mesh waters sub- Other sub-
ACL sub-ACL sub-ACL ACL sub-ACL fishery fishery fisheries component component
A to H A + B + C A B C D E F G H
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod............................... 37 37 35 1.4 ............ ......... ........ ......... 0.2 0.4
WGOM Cod............................... 436 407 279 11 118 ......... ........ ......... 23 5
GB Cod................................. 101 93 89 3.2 ............ ......... ........ ......... 0 8.5

[[Page 12998]]

SNE Cod................................ 34 25 6.5 0.2 18 ......... ........ ......... 6.1 3.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 5--Proposed Catch Limits for the 2027 Fishing Year *
[mt, live weight]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Midwater Small- State
Stock Total Groundfish Sector pool sub- Recreational trawl Scallop mesh waters sub- Other sub-
ACL sub-ACL sub-ACL ACL sub-ACL fishery fishery fisheries component component
A to H A + B + C A B C D E F G H
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod............................... 29 28 27 1.1 ............ ......... ........ ......... 0.2 0.3
WGOM Cod............................... 555 519 355 14 150 ......... ........ ......... 30 6.4
SNE Cod................................ 34 25 6.5 0.2 18 ......... ........ ......... 6.1 3.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* GB cod does not have catch limits proposed for fishing year 2027, and is therefore not included in table 5.

Table 6--Cumulative PSC (Percentage), Estimated ACE (in mt) and Estimated ACE (in 1,000 lb) for Each Sector by Cod Stock for Fishing Year 2026
*\<Register>\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PSC ACE in mt ACE in 1,000 lb
MRI -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector name count EGOM WGOM GB SNE EGOM WGOM GB SNE
GOM cod GB cod cod cod cod cod cod cod cod cod
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed Gear Sector............................... 58 0.621182828 10.2421232 0 11 9 1 0 24 21 2
Maine Coast Community Sector.................... 107 16.04726033 2.14381876 6 34 2 0 13 74 4 0
Maine Permit Bank............................... 11 1.161689606 0.134391577 0 2 0 0 1 5 0 0
Mooncusser Sector............................... 51 7.219127919 11.7507685 3 25 11 1 6 55 24 2
NEFS 2.......................................... 128 25.72844012 10.06043816 9 60 9 1 21 132 21 1
NEFS 4.......................................... 58 11.18238598 8.630642562 4 30 8 1 9 66 18 1
NEFS 5.......................................... 14 0.328819005 0.354727202 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0
NEFS 6.......................................... 3 0.169006172 0.532779632 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0
NEFS 8.......................................... 114 6.450874228 34.51388651 2 45 32 2 5 99 70 5
NEFS 10......................................... 20 1.677842528 0.171299148 1 3 0 0 1 8 0 0
NEFS 11......................................... 38 10.53615357 0.398248397 4 21 0 0 8 47 1 0
NEFS 12......................................... 25 3.840403876 0.871446785 1 8 1 0 3 18 2 0
NEFS 13......................................... 49 0.338573624 7.53239015 0 8 7 1 0 17 15 1
New Hampshire Permit Bank....................... 4 1.151880562 0.000826964 0 2 0 0 1 5 0 0
Sustainable Harvest Sector 1.................... 41 4.502129382 5.053437132 2 14 5 0 4 30 10 1
Sustainable Harvest Sector 2.................... 14 1.137391277 1.297760061 0 3 1 0 1 8 3 0
Sustainable Harvest Sector 3.................... 29 3.980217806 2.855176067 1 10 3 0 3 23 6 0
Common Pool..................................... 495 3.926621182 3.455839183 1 11 3 0 3 24 7 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Sectors................................. 764 96.07337882 96.54416082 35 279 89 7 77 615 197 14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The data in this table are based on sector rosters for fishing year 2025 and may change based on final fishing year 2026 sector enrollment.
\<greek-i>\ Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and nearest metric ton. In some cases, this table shows an allocation of 0, but that
sector may be allocated a small amount of that stock in pounds.

Table 7--Proposed Trimester TAC Distributions (percent) for Atlantic Cod Stocks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod........................................................ 80 10 10
WGOM Cod........................................................ 55 22 23
GB Cod.......................................................... 33 33 34
SNE Cod......................................................... 36 31 33
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 8--Proposed Fishing Years 2026-2027 Common Pool Trimester TACs
[mt, live weight] *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026 2027
Stock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod.......................................................... 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.1 0.1
WGOM Cod.......................................................... 6.0 2.4 2.5 7.6 3.1 3.2
GB Cod............................................................ 1.1 1.1 1.1 ............ ............ ............

[[Page 12999]]

SNE Cod........................................................... 0.083 0.071 0.076 0.072 0.062 0.066
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The data in this table are based on sector rosters for fishing year 2025 and may change based on final fishing year 2026 sector enrollment.

Table 9--Proposed Common Pool Incidental Catch TACs for the 2026-2027 Fishing Years
[mt, live weight]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of common
Stock pool sub-ACL 2026 2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod............................................... 1 0.01 0.01
WGOM Cod............................................... 1 0.11 0.14
GB Cod................................................. 1.68 0.05 ..............
SNE Cod................................................ 1 0.00 0.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 10--Percentage of Incidental Catch TACs Distributed to Each
Special Management Program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular B DAS Eastern U.S./Canada
Stock program haddock SAP
(percent) (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod....................... 100 n/a
WGOM Cod....................... 100 n/a
GB Cod......................... 60 40
SNE Cod........................ 100 n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 11--Proposed Fishing Years 2026-2027 Incidental Catch TACs for Each Special Management Program
[mt, live weight]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular B DAS Program Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock
--------------------------------- SAP
Stock -------------------------------
2026 2027 2026 2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod....................................... 0.01 0.01 n/a n/a
WGOM Cod....................................... 0.11 0.14 n/a n/a
GB Cod......................................... 0.03 ............... 0.02 ..............
SNE Cod........................................ 0.00 0.00 n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Pool AMs and Other Management Measures

Common Pool Trimester Total Allowable Catch Areas for Cod Stocks

As previously described in Common Pool Total Allowable Catches, the
Trimester TAC AM requires closure of a stock's Trimester TAC Area for
common pool vessels fishing when common pool catch is projected to
reach 90 percent of the Trimester TAC for that stock. For the cod
stocks, these closures would apply to common pool vessels fishing with
trawl, gillnet, or longline/hook gear. Amendment 25 proposes Trimester
TAC Areas for each of the four cod stocks (table 12). These areas were
developed via the process outlined in Amendment 16, which established
trimester TAC closure areas based on the statistical areas that made up
90 percent of the total commercial catches using the most recent 5-year
period of data. For the four new cod stocks, Amendment 25 used
commercial catch data from fishing years 2019 through 2023.

Table 12--Proposed Trimester TAC Areas for Atlantic Cod Stocks, by
Statistical Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester TAC area, by
Stock statistical area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod............................... 512.
WGOM Cod............................... 513, 514, 521.
GB Cod................................. 522, 561.
SNE Cod................................ 537, 539, 613.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 13000]]

Common Pool Baseline Trip Limits for Cod Stocks

Amendment 25 proposes common pool trip limits for each of the
revised cod stocks. Common pool trip limits for DAS vessels would be
established as in table 13. The DAS trip limit for WGOM cod was
developed via a trip limit analysis that used historical fishing effort
and landings to estimate potential landings of the stock in fishing
year 2026. For EGOM cod and GB cod, landings and effort for these
stocks has been limited in recent years. The common pool trip limits
proposed in this action are intended to provide for a limited amount of
bycatch of cod that may result from fishing for other stocks in the
common pool. For SNE cod, the proposed common pool sub-ACL is
insufficient to support any amount of landings, even as bycatch, and so
Amendment 25 proposes prohibiting common pool vessels' possession of
this stock.
This action also proposes common pool trip limits for each of the
revised cod stocks for the non-DAS Northeast multispecies permits
(Handgear A, Handgear B, and the Small Vessel Category permit) (table
13).

Table 13--Proposed 2026 common pool daily and trip possession limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2026 Common Pool Daily and Trip Possession Limits
Stock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAS permits Handgear A Handgear B Small vessel category
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod............................ 25 lb (11 kg) per DAS, 25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
up to 50 lb (23 kg) per
trip.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGOM Cod............................ 50 lb (23 kg) per DAS, 50 lb (23 kg) per trip. 25 lb (11 kg) per trip. 50 lb (23 kg) per trip.
up to 100 lb (45 kg)
per trip.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod.............................. 25 lb (11 kg) per DAS, 25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
up to 50 lb (23 kg) per
trip.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNE Cod............................. 0 lb (0 kg) per trip; possession prohibited.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recreational Management Measures

Under the provisions at Sec. 648.89(f)(3), Northeast multispecies
fishery regulations include proactive recreational AMs to ensure that
the recreational sub-ACL for recreational stocks with a sub-ACL is
achieved, but not exceeded. For the proactive AMs, the Regional
Administrator, in consultation with the Council, develops and
implements recreational management measures for the upcoming fishing
year, including minimum fish size, bag limit, season, and/or other
measures. The FMP also includes reactive AMs to correct the cause or
mitigate the effects of an overage, if one occurs.

WGOM Cod

This rule proposes setting WGOM cod recreational measures,
specifically a minimum size of 23 inches (58.4 cm), with a possession
limit of one fish and open seasons of May 1-May 31 and September 1-
October 31 (see table 14). These measures are based on the proposed
Amendment 25 WGOM cod sub-ACL and the Council's recommended management
measures provided in a February 6, 2025, letter to the Regional
Administrator, originally intended for fishing year 2025. The Council
is expected to provide recommendations for recreational measures in
January 2026, and any changes to these proposed measures could be made
in a future action.
The proposed measures are expected to adequately constrain
recreational catch of WGOM cod based on the bio-economic model
estimates. To develop its recommendations for fishing year 2025, the
Council considered projected recreational GOM haddock and WGOM cod
removals based on several management measure scenarios. The scenarios
included combinations of minimum fish sizes, possession limits, and
closed seasons for GOM haddock and WGOM cod using a newly developed
Decision Support Tool created by the Northeast Fisheries Science
Center.

GB and EGOM Cod

Amendment 25 proposes to establish a temporary regulatory process
for the Regional Administrator to set EGOM cod and GB cod recreational
measures for fishing year 2026 to maintain consistency with the other
cod stocks, to the extent practicable. Following the consultation with
the Council, NMFS would set recreational measures for EGOM cod and GB
cod. Any measures set would remain in place unless changed in a future
framework action.
As recommended by the Council, this action proposes to set EGOM cod
and GB cod recreational measures consistent with WGOM cod measures,
specifically a minimum size of 23 inches (58.4 cm), with a possession
limit of one fish and open seasons of May 1-May 31 and September 1-
October 31 (see table 14).

SNE Cod

As discussed in Specifications for Fishing Years 2026-2027,
Amendment 25 includes a very small recreational sub-ACL for SNE cod.
While the regulations provide procedures for the Regional Administrator
to set the recreational measures for a stock with a sub-ACL, in this
case the Council included the recreational measures for SNE cod as part
of Amendment 25 for fishing year 2026. Amendment 25 proposes to
establish a zero fish possession limit for SNE cod for all recreational
fishermen (charter/party and private anglers) (see table 14). Given the
very low ABC and recreational sub-ACL proposed for fishing year 2026,
these are the only measures that would be expected to reduce mortality
sufficiently. The Regional Administrator will evaluate the SNE cod
recreational management measures annually as long as the stock has an
associated recreational sub-ACL.

Table 14--Proposed Recreational Cod Management Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum
Possession limit (for hire size in
Stock and private) inches Open season
(cm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGOM Cod................................. 1.......................... 23 (58.4) May 1-May 31 and September
1-October 31.
GB Cod................................... 1.......................... 23 (58.4) May 1-May 31 and September
1-October 31.

[[Page 13001]]

EGOM Cod................................. 1.......................... 23 (58.4) May 1-May 31 and September
1-October 31.
SNE Cod.................................. No retention............... n/a CLOSED.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n/a: No minimum size proposed for SNE cod, because it is zero retention.

Classification

Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
NMFS Assistant Administrator has made a preliminary determination that
this proposed rule is consistent with Amendment 25, other provisions of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further
consideration after public comment. In making the final determination,
the Regional Administrator will consider the data, views, and comments
received during the public comment period for this action.
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. This proposed rule is not an
Executive Order 14192 regulatory action because this rule is not
significant under Executive Order 12866.
An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared for
this proposed rule, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603. The IRFA describes the economic impact
that this proposed rule would have on small entities, including small
businesses, and also determines ways to minimize these impacts. The
IRFA includes this CLASSIFICATION and the Summary of Proposed Measures
sections of this proposed rule and analyses contained in Amendment 25
and its accompanying EA/Regulatory Impact Review/IRFA. A copy of the
full analysis is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). A summary
of the IRFA follows.

Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered
and Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed
Rule

This action proposes management measures, including ACLs, for the
Atlantic cod stocks that are part of the Northeast multispecies fishery
in order to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished groundfish stocks,
and achieve optimum yield in the fishery, as required by the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. A complete description of the action, why it is being
considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained in
Amendment 25, and in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this
proposed rule under the Summary of Proposed Measures heading, and are
not repeated here.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which This
Proposed Rule Would Apply

This proposed rule would apply to the commercial and recreational
fisheries for groundfish, as well as the Atlantic sea scallop, small-
mesh multispecies, Atlantic herring, and large-mesh non-groundfish
fisheries that overlap with the groundfish fishery. Individually
permitted vessels may hold permits for several fisheries, harvesting
species of fish that are regulated by several different FMPs, beyond
those directly affected by the proposed action. Furthermore, multiple-
permitted vessels and/or permits may be owned by entities affiliated by
stock ownership, common management, identity of interest, contractual
relationships, or economic dependency. For the purposes of the RFA
analysis, the ownership entities, not the individual vessels, are
considered to be the regulated entities.
As of June 1, 2024, NMFS had issued 669 commercial limited-access
groundfish permits associated with vessels (including those in
confirmation of permit history (CPH)), 719 party/charter groundfish
permits, 696 limited access and general category Atlantic sea scallop
permits, 761 small-mesh multispecies permits, 71 Atlantic herring
permits, and 743 large-mesh non-groundfish permits (i.e., limited
access summer flounder and scup permits). Therefore, this action
potentially applies to 3,659 permits. When accounting for overlaps
between fisheries, this number reduces to 2,144 permitted vessels. Each
vessel may be individually owned or part of a larger corporate
ownership structure and, for RFA purposes, it is the ownership entity
that is ultimately regulated by the proposed action. Ownership entities
are identified on June 1st of each year based on the list of all permit
numbers, for the most recent complete calendar year, that have applied
for any type of Greater Atlantic Region Federal fishing permit. The
current ownership data set is based on calendar year 2023 permits and
contains gross sales associated with those permits for calendar years
2019 through 2023.
For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary
industry is commercial fishing (see Sec. 200.2). A business primarily
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its
affiliated operations worldwide. The determination as to whether the
entity is large or small is based on the average annual revenue for the
five years from 2019 through 2023. The Small Business Administration
(SBA) has established size standards for all other major industry
sectors in the U.S., including for-hire fishing (NAICS code 487210).
These entities are classified as small businesses if combined annual
receipts are not in excess of $8.0 million for all of an entity's
affiliated operations. As with commercial fishing businesses, the
annual average of the three most recent years (2019-2023) is utilized
in determining annual receipts for businesses primarily engaged in for-
hire fishing.
Based on the ownership data, 1,648 distinct business entities hold
at least one permit that the proposed action potentially regulates. All
1,648 business entities identified could be directly regulated by this
proposed action. Of these 1,648 entities, 891 are commercial fishing
entities, 326 are for-hire entities, and 431 did not have revenues
(i.e., were inactive in 2023). Of the 891 commercial fishing entities,
881 are categorized as small entities and 10 are categorized as large
entities, per the NMFS guidelines. Furthermore, 412 of these commercial
fishing entities held limited access groundfish permits, with 408 of
these entities being classified as small businesses and 4 of these
entities being classified as large businesses. All 326 for-hire
entities are categorized as small businesses.

[[Page 13002]]

Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other
Compliance Requirements of This Proposed Rule

The proposed action contains no information requirements under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With This
Proposed Rule

The proposed action does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with
any other Federal rules.

Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and Which
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities

The economic impacts of each proposed measure are discussed in more
detail in sections 6.5 and 7.11 of the draft Amendment 25 EA (see
ADDRESSES) and are not repeated here. These considerations include the
status determination criteria, the updated groundfish specifications,
and other measures in this proposed rule, and the No Action
alternative. An alternative approach to dividing the northern and
southern portions of the WGOM cod stock area for allocating to the
commercial fishery was considered by the Council, but was moved to
``considered but rejected.'' The proposed action is predicted to
generate $34.7 million in gross revenues for the sector portion of the
commercial groundfish trips. Under the No Action alternative, sector
revenue could not be estimated due to the lack of specifications for
the new Atlantic cod stocks for the upcoming fishing year. Small
entities engaged in the commercial groundfish fishery, including both
the sector component and the common pool component, will be positively
impacted by the proposed action relative to No Action. However, the
proposed action is predicted to result in $7.0 million less than the
amount of gross revenues generated in fishing year 2023. Small entities
engaged in common pool groundfish fishing are expected to be positively
impacted by the proposed action, relative to the No Action alternative.
The recreational sub-ACLs for WGOM cod and SNE cod would be defined
under the proposed action, and because these sub-ACLs would not be
defined under the No Action, the proposed action is expected to
positively impact the recreational fishery relative to the No Action.
However, relative to fishing year 2023, the zero-possession
recreational limit for SNE cod is expected to negatively impact the
recreational fishery. The proposed recreational measures for WGOM cod
are expected to have a positive effect on small entities, because they
are expected to increase opportunity to harvest WGOM cod.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.

Dated: March 3, 2026.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.

For the reasons stated in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50
CFR part 648 as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

0
2. In Sec. 648.2, add the definitions for ``WGOM cod northern
portion'' and ``WGOM cod southern portion'' in alphabetical order to
read as follows:

Sec. 648.2 Definitions.

* * * * *
WGOM cod northern portion means the geographical area of the WGOM
cod stock area, as defined in Sec. 648.88(a)(2), that overlaps the GOM
Stock Area 1, as described in Sec. 648.10(k)(3)(i).
WGOM cod southern portion means the geographical area of the WGOM
cod stock area, as defined in Sec. 648.88(a)(2), that overlaps the
Inshore GB Stock Area 2 and SNE/MA Stock Area 4, as described in Sec.
648.10(k)(3)(ii) and (iv).
0
3. Amend Sec. 648.82 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (n)(2)(i)(A), (n)(2)(ii) introductory text, and
(n)(2)(ii)(A) and (B);
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (n)(2)(ii)(C) through (N) as paragraphs
(n)(2)(ii)(E) through (P); and
0
c. Add new paragraphs (n)(2)(ii)(C) and (D).
The revisions and additions read as follows:

Sec. 648.82 Effort-control program for NE multispecies vessels.

* * * * *
(n) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) * * *
(A) Trimester TAC distribution. With the exception of SNE/MA winter
flounder, any sub-ACLs specified for common pool vessels pursuant to
Sec. 648.90(a)(4) shall be apportioned into 4-month trimesters,
beginning at the start of the fishing year (i.e., Trimester 1: May 1-
August 31; Trimester 2: September 1-December 31; Trimester 3: January
1-April 30), as follows:

Table 1 to Paragraph (n)(2)(i)(A)--Portion of Common Pool Sub-ACLs Apportioned to Each Stock for Each Trimester
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3
Stock (percent) (percent) (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM cod........................................................ 80 10 10
WGOM cod........................................................ 55 22 23
GB cod.......................................................... 33 33 34
SNE Cod......................................................... 36 31 33
GB haddock...................................................... 27 33 40
GOM haddock..................................................... 27 26 47
GB yellowtail flounder.......................................... 19 30 51
SNE/MA yellowtail flounder...................................... 21 28 51
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder...................................... 57 26 17
American plaice................................................. 74 8 18
Witch flounder.................................................. 55 20 25
GB winter flounder.............................................. 8 24 68
GOM winter flounder............................................. 37 38 25
Redfish......................................................... 25 31 44
White hake...................................................... 38 31 31

[[Page 13003]]

Pollock......................................................... 28 35 37
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
(ii) Stock area closures. Unless otherwise specified in this
paragraph (n)(2)(ii), if the Regional Administrator projects that 90
percent of the trimester TACs specified in paragraph (n)(2)(i) of this
section will be caught based upon available information, the Regional
Administrator shall close the area where 90 percent of the catch for
each such stock occurred to all common pool vessels on a NE
multispecies DAS using gear capable of catching such stocks for the
remainder of that trimester, as specified in paragraphs (n)(2)(ii)(A)
through (P) of this section, in a manner consistent with the
Administrative Procedure Act. For example, if the Regional
Administrator projects that 90 percent of the CC/GOM yellowtail
flounder Trimester 1 TAC will be caught, common pool vessels using
trawl and gillnet gear shall be prohibited from fishing in the CC/GOM
Yellowtail Flounder Closure Area specified in paragraph (n)(2)(ii)(I)
of this section until the beginning of Trimester 2 on September 1 of
that fishing year. Based upon all available information, the Regional
Administrator is authorized to expand or narrow the areas closed under
this paragraph (n)(2)(ii) in a manner consistent with the
Administrative Procedure Act. If it is not possible to identify an area
where only 90 percent of the catch occurred, the Regional Administrator
shall close the smallest area possible where greater than 90 percent of
the catch occurred. Common pool vessels holding either a Handgear A or
B permit and fishing with handgear or tub trawls are exempt from stock
area closures for white hake. The Regional Administrator may exempt
Handgear A and B permitted vessels from stock area closures for other
stocks pursuant to this paragraph (n)(2)(ii) if it is determined that
catches of the respective species or stock by these vessels are less
than 1 percent of the common pool catch of that species or stock. The
Regional Administrator shall make such determination prior to the start
of the fishing year through a notice published in the Federal Register,
consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act, and any such
determination shall remain in effect until modified.
(A) EGOM Cod Trimester TAC Area. For the purposes of the trimester
TAC AM closure specified in paragraph (n)(2)(ii) of this section, the
EGOM Cod Trimester TAC Area shall apply to common pool vessels using
trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear within the area
bounded by the coastline of the United States and by straight lines
connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 2 to Paragraph (n)(2)(ii)(A)--EGOM Cod Trimester TAC Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM1......................................... 44[deg]23'5 67[deg]57'3
8'' 5''
EGOM2......................................... 44[deg]10' 67[deg]50'
EGOM3......................................... 44[deg]00' 67[deg]50'
EGOM4......................................... 44[deg]00' 67[deg]40'
EGOM5......................................... 43[deg]20' 67[deg]40'
EGOM6......................................... 43[deg]20' 69[deg]00'
EGOM7......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]00'
EGOM8......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]20'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(B) WGOM Cod Trimester TAC Area. For the purposes of the trimester
TAC AM closure specified in paragraph (n)(2)(ii) of this section, the
WGOM Cod Trimester TAC Area shall apply to common pool vessels using
trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear within the area
bounded by the coastline of the United States and by the straight lines
connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 3 to Paragraph (n)(2)(ii)(B)--WGOM Cod Trimester TAC Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGOM1......................................... (\1\) 69[deg]20'
WGOM2......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]20'
WGOM3......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]00'
WGOM4......................................... 43[deg]10' 69[deg]00'
WGOM5......................................... 43[deg]10' 69[deg]10'
WGOM6......................................... 43[deg]00' 69[deg]10'
WGOM7......................................... 43[deg]00' 69[deg]20'
WGOM8......................................... 42[deg]50' 69[deg]20'
WGOM9......................................... 42[deg]50' 69[deg]40'
WGOM10........................................ 42[deg]20' 69[deg]40'
WGOM11........................................ 42[deg]20' 68[deg]50'
WGOM12........................................ 41[deg]00' 68[deg]50'
WGOM13........................................ 41[deg]00' 69[deg]30'
WGOM14........................................ 41[deg]10' 69[deg]30'
WGOM15........................................ 41[deg]10' 69[deg]50'
WGOM16........................................ 41[deg]20' 69[deg]50'
WGOM17........................................ (\2\) 70[deg]00'
WGOM18........................................ (\3\) 70[deg]00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing ME coastline and 69[deg]20''; W Long.
\2\ Northeast-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA.
\3\ South-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA.

(C) GB Cod Trimester TAC Area. For the purposes of the trimester
TAC AM closure specified in paragraph (n)(2)(ii) of this section, the
GB Cod Trimester TAC Area shall apply to common pool vessels using
trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear within the area
bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order
stated:

Table 4 to Paragraph (n)(2)(ii)(C)--GB Cod Trimester TAC Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB1........................................... 42[deg]20' 68[deg]50'
GB2........................................... 42[deg]20' (\1\)
GB3........................................... 41[deg]50' (\1\)
GB4........................................... 41[deg]50' 67[deg]40'
GB5........................................... 41[deg]20' 67[deg]40'
GB6........................................... 41[deg]20' 68[deg]10'
GB7........................................... 41[deg]10' 68[deg]10'
GB8........................................... 41[deg]10' 68[deg]20'
GB9........................................... 41[deg]00' 68[deg]20'
GB10.......................................... 41[deg]00' 68[deg]50'
GB1........................................... 42[deg]20' 68[deg]50'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.

(D) SNE Cod Trimester TAC Area. For the purposes of the trimester
TAC AM closure specified in paragraph (n)(2)(ii) of this section, the
SNE Cod Trimester TAC Area shall apply to common pool vessels using
trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear within the area
bounded by the coastline of the United States and by straight lines
connecting the following points in the order stated and bounded by the
coastline:

Table 5 to Paragraph (n)(2)(ii)(D)--SNE Cod Trimester TAC Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNE1.......................................... (\1\) 71[deg]10'
SNE2.......................................... 41[deg]20' 71[deg]10'

[[Page 13004]]

SNE3.......................................... 41[deg]20' (\2\)
SNE4.......................................... (\3\) 70[deg]00'
SNE5.......................................... 39[deg]50' 70[deg]00'
SNE6.......................................... 39[deg]50' 71[deg]40'
SNE7.......................................... 40[deg]00' 71[deg]40'
SNE8.......................................... 40[deg]00' 73[deg]00'
SNE9.......................................... (\4\) 73[deg]00'
SNE10......................................... 41[deg]00' (\5\)
SNE11......................................... 41[deg]00' 71[deg]40'
SNE12......................................... (\1\) 71[deg]40'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ South-facing coastline of Rhode Island.
\2\ West-facing coastline of Martha's Vineyard, MA.
\3\ South-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA.
\4\ South-facing coastline of Long Island, NY.
\5\ Southeast-facing coastline of Long Island, NY.

* * * * *
0
4. Amend Sec. 648.85 by revising paragraph (b)(5) introductory text
and paragraph (b)(6)(iv)(D) to read as follows:

Sec. 648.85 Special management programs.

* * * * *
(b) * * *
(5) Incidental Catch TACs. Unless otherwise specified in this
paragraph (b)(5), Incidental Catch TACs shall be based upon the portion
of the ACL for a stock specified for common pool vessels pursuant to
Sec. 648.90(a)(4), and allocated as described in this paragraph
(b)(5), for each of the following stocks: WGOM cod, EGOM cod, GB cod,
SNE cod, GB yellowtail flounder, CC/GOM yellowtail flounder, American
plaice, SNE/MA winter flounder, and witch flounder. Because GB
yellowtail flounder and GB cod are transboundary stocks, the incidental
catch TACs for these stocks shall be based upon the common pool portion
of the ACL available to U.S. vessels. NMFS shall send letters to
limited access NE multispecies permit holders notifying them of such
TACs.
* * * * *
(6) * * *
(iv) * * *
(D) Landing limits. Unless otherwise specified in this paragraph
(b)(6)(iv)(D), or restricted pursuant to Sec. 648.86, a NE
multispecies vessel fishing in the Regular B DAS Program described in
this paragraph (b)(6), and fishing under a Regular B DAS, may not land
more than 100 lb (45.5 kg) per DAS, or any part of a DAS, up to a
maximum of 1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip, of any of the following species/
stocks from the areas specified in Sec. 648.88: Cod (EGOM, WGOM, GB,
and SNE), American plaice, witch flounder, SNE/MA winter flounder, and
GB yellowtail flounder; and may not land more than 25 lb (11.3 kg) per
DAS, or any part of a DAS, up to a maximum of 250 lb (113 kg) per trip
of CC/GOM yellowtail flounder. In addition, trawl vessels, which are
required to fish with a haddock separator trawl, as specified in
paragraph (a)(3)(iii)(A) of this section, or a Ruhle trawl, as
specified in paragraph (b)(6)(iv)(J) of this section, and other gear
that may be required in order to reduce catches of stocks of concern as
described in paragraph (b)(6)(iv)(J) of this section, are restricted to
the trip limits specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
* * * * *
0
5. Amend Sec. 648.86 by revising Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1) to read
as follows:

Sec. 648.86 NE Multispecies commercial possession restrictions.

* * * * *
(a) * * *
(1) * * *

Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock \1\ DAS limit \2\ Trip limit \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM cod \3\.................... 25 lb per DAS..... 50 lb per trip.
WGOM cod \3\.................... 50 lb per DAS..... 100 lb per trip.
GB cod \3\...................... 25 lb per DAS..... 50 lb per trip.
SNE cod \3\..................... 0 lb per DAS...... 0 lb per trip.
GOM haddock..................... 1,000 lb (453 kg) 2,000 lb (907 kg)
per DAS. per trip.
GB haddock...................... 1,000 lb (453 kg) 2,000 lb (907 kg)
per DAS. per trip.
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder \4\.. 1,500 lb (680 kg) 3,000 lb (1,360
per DAS. kg) per trip.
GB yellowtail flounder \4\...... No daily limit.... 100 lb (45.4 kg)
per trip.
SNE yellowtail flounder \4\..... 200 lb (90.7 kg) 400 lb (181 kg)
per DAS. per trip.
American plaice................. 3,000 lb (1,360 6,000 lb (2,721
kg) per DAS. kg) per trip.
Witch flounder.................. No daily limit.... 1,500 lb (680 kg)
per trip.
GB winter flounder.............. No daily limit.... 500 lb (227 kg)
trip.
GOM winter flounder............. No daily limit.... 2,000 lb (907 kg)
per trip.
SNE/MA winter flounder.......... 2,000 lb (907 kg) 4,000 lb (1,814
per DAS. kg) per trip.
Redfish......................... Unlimited......... Unlimited.
White hake...................... No daily limit.... 1,000 lb (453 kg)
per trip.
Pollock......................... Unlimited......... Unlimited.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The stock areas that apply to these possession limits are specified
in Sec. 648.88.
\2\ The possession limits in Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1) may be adjusted
in-season by the Regional Administrator, as specified under at Sec.
648.86(a)(5). Current possession limits are available at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/commercial-fishing/northeast-multispecies-common-pool-fishery">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/commercial-fishing/northeast-multispecies-common-pool-fishery</a>.
\3\ Additional restrictions for cod stocks are specified at Sec.
648.86(a)(6)(iii).
\4\ Additional restrictions for yellowtail flounder stocks are specified
at Sec. 648.86(a)(6)(iv).

* * * * *
0
6. Amend Sec. 648.87 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (b)(1)(i)(C)(1) introductory text;
0
b. Add paragraph (b)(1)(i)(C)(1)(iii);
0
c. Revise paragraph (b)(1)(i)(E) introductory text and (b)(1)(i)(E)(2)
paragraph heading.
The revisions and additions read as follows:

Sec. 648.87 Sector allocation.

* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) * * *
(C) * * *
(1) Maximum carryover. With the exception of GB yellowtail
flounder, and unless otherwise specified in (b)(1)(i)(C)(1)(iii) of
this section a sector may carryover an amount of ACE equal to 10
percent of its original ACE for each stock that is unused at the end of
one fishing year into the following fishing year, provided that the
total unused

[[Page 13005]]

sector ACE plus the overall ACL for the following fishing year does not
exceed the ABC for the fishing year in which the carryover may be
harvested. If this total exceeds the ABC, NMFS shall adjust the maximum
amount of unused ACE that a sector may carryover (down from 10 percent)
to an amount equal to the ABC of the following fishing year. Any
adjustments made would be applied to each sector based on its total
unused ACE and proportional to the cumulative PSCs of vessels/permits
participating in the sector for the particular fishing year, as
described in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(E) of this section.
* * * * *
(iii) Atlantic cod stocks carryover for fishing year 2026. Unused
fishing year 2025 ACE for the Atlantic cod stocks will not carryover to
a sector's fishing year 2026 ACE for the Atlantic cod stocks. For the
2027 fishing year and onward, carryover for the Atlantic cod stocks
will return to the processes described in (b)(1)(i)(C)(1) and (2) of
this section.
* * * * *
(E) Potential sector contribution (PSC). For the purposes of
allocating a share of the available ACL for each NE multispecies stock
to approved sectors pursuant to Sec. 648.90(a)(4), the landings
history of all limited access NE multispecies permits shall be
evaluated to determine each permit's share of the overall landings for
each NE multispecies stock as specified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i)(E)(1)
and (2) of this section. For the purposes of allocating a share of the
available ACL for the four Atlantic cod stocks (i.e., EGOM, WGOM, GB,
and SNE cod) to approved sectors pursuant to Sec. 648.90(a)(4), the
PSCs will continue to be calculated for GOM cod and GB cod according to
the method specified in Amendment 16, in accordance with paragraphs
(b)(1)(i)(E)(1) and (2) of this section. When calculating an individual
permit's share of the overall landings for a particular regulated
species or ocean pout stock, landed weight shall be converted to live
weight to maintain consistency with the way ACLs are calculated
pursuant to Sec. 648.90(a)(4) and the way ACEs are allocated to
sectors pursuant to this paragraph (b)(1)(i). This calculation shall be
performed on July 1 of each year, unless another date is specified by
the Regional Administrator, to redistribute the landings history
associated with permits that have been voluntarily relinquished or
otherwise canceled among all remaining valid limited access NE
multispecies permits as of that date during the following fishing year.
The PSC calculated pursuant to this paragraph (b)(1)(i)(E) shall remain
with the permit indefinitely, but may be permanently reduced or
eliminated due to a permit sanction or other enforcement action.
* * * * *
(2) Calculation of PSC for GB cod. * * *
* * * * *
0
7. Amend Sec. 648.88 by revising paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) and adding
paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) to read as follows:

Sec. 648.88 Multispecies stock area definitions.

* * * * *
(a) * * *
(1) EGOM cod stock area. The EGOM cod stock is the area defined by
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated and
bounded by the coastline of the United States:

Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)--EGOM Cod Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM1......................................... (\1\) 69[deg]20'
EGOM2......................................... (\2\) 67[deg]00'
EGOM3......................................... (\2\) 67[deg]40'
EGOM4......................................... 43[deg]20' 67[deg]40'
EGOM5......................................... 43[deg]20' 69[deg]00'
EGOM6......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]00'
EGOM7......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]20'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing ME coastline and 69[deg]20' W long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.

(2) WGOM cod stock area. The WGOM cod stock is the area defined by
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated and
bounded by the coastline of the United States:

Table 2 to Paragraph (a)(2)--WGOM Cod Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGOM1......................................... (\1\) 69[deg]20'
WGOM2......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]20'
WGOM3......................................... 43[deg]40' 69[deg]00'
WGOM4......................................... 43[deg]20' 69[deg]00'
WGOM5......................................... 43[deg]20' 67[deg]40'
WGOM6......................................... (\2\) 67[deg]40'
WGOM7......................................... (\3\) 67[deg]40'
WGOM8......................................... 42[deg]20' 67[deg]40'
WGOM9......................................... 42[deg]20' 68[deg]50'
WGOM10........................................ 39[deg]50' 68[deg]50'
WGOM11........................................ 39[deg]50' 69[deg]00'
WGOM12........................................ 39[deg]00' 69[deg]00'
WGOM13........................................ 39[deg]00' 70[deg]00'
WGOM14........................................ (\4\) 70[deg]00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing ME coastline and 69[deg]20' W long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with 67[deg]40'
W long).
\3\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (southern intersection with 67[deg]40'
W long).
\4\ Intersection of south-facing coastline of Cape Cod and 70[deg]00' W
long.

(3) GB cod stock area. The GB cod stock area is the area defined by
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Table 3 to Paragraph (a)(3)--GB Cod Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB1........................................... 42[deg]20' 68[deg]50'
GB2........................................... 42[deg]20' 67[deg]40'
GB3........................................... (\1\) 67[deg]40'
GB4........................................... 39[deg]00' (\2\)
GB5........................................... 39[deg]00' 69[deg]00'
GB6........................................... 39[deg]50' 69[deg]00'
GB7........................................... 39[deg]50' 68[deg]50'
GB1........................................... 42[deg]20' 68[deg]50'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with 67[deg]40'
W long).
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (intersection with 39[deg]00' N
latitude).

(4) SNE cod stock area. The SNE cod stock area is the area defined
by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated
and bounded by the coastline of the United States:

Table 4 to Paragraph (a)(4)--SNE Cod Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N latitude W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNE1.......................................... (\1\) 70[deg]00'
SNE2.......................................... 39[deg]00' 69[deg]00'
SNE3.......................................... 39[deg]00' (\2\)
SNE4.......................................... 35[deg]00' (\2\)
SNE5.......................................... 35[deg]00' (\3\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing coastline of Cape Cod and 70[deg]00' W
long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\3\ Intersection of east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and
35[deg]00' N lat.

* * * * *
0
8. Amend Sec. 648.89 as follows:
0
a. Revise Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(1), Table 2 to Paragraph (c)(1), and
Table 3 to Paragraph (c)(2); and
0
b. Add paragraph (g).
The revisions and addition read as follows:

Sec. 648.89 Recreational and charter/party vessel restrictions.

* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *

[[Page 13006]]

Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charter/party minimum Private minimum size Maximum size
size ------------------------------------------------
Species -------------------------
inches cm inches cm inches cm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cod:
EGOM cod stock area \1\........... 23 58.4 23 58.4 N/A N/A
WGOM cod stock area \1\........... 23 58.4 23 58.4 N/A N/A
GB cod stock area \1\............. 23 58.4 23 58.4 N/A N/A
SNE cod stock area \1\............ N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Haddock:
Inside GOM Regulated Mesh Area \2\ 17 43.2 17 43.2 N/A N/A
Outside GOM Regulated Mesh Area 18 45.7 18 45.7 N/A N/A
\2\..............................
Pollock............................... 19 48.3 19 48.3 N/A N/A
Witch Flounder (gray sole)............ 14 35.6 14 35.6 N/A N/A
Yellowtail Flounder................... 13 33.0 13 33.0 N/A N/A
American Plaice (dab)................. 14 35.6 14 35.6 N/A N/A
Atlantic Halibut...................... 41 104.1 41 104.1 N/A N/A
Winter Flounder (black back).......... 12 30.5 12 30.5 N/A N/A
Redfish............................... 9 22.9 9 22.9 N/A N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Cod stock areas specified in Sec. 648.88
\2\ GOM Regulated Mesh Area specified in Sec. 648.80(a).

* * * * *
(c) * * *
(1) * * *

Table 2 to Paragraph (c)(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Open season Possession limit Closed season
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod........................... May 1-May 31; 1.......................... June 1-August 31;
September 1-October November 1-April 30.
31.
WGOM Cod........................... May 1-May 31; 1.......................... June 1-August 31;
September 1-October November 1-April 30.
31.
GB Cod............................. May 1-May 31; 1.......................... June 1-August 31;
September 1-October November 1-April 30.
31.
SNE Cod............................ CLOSED................ No Retention............... All Year.
GB Haddock......................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
GOM Haddock........................ May 1-February 28 (or 15......................... March 1-March 31.
29); April 1-30.
GB Yellowtail Flounder............. All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder......... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder......... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
American Plaice.................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Witch Flounder..................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
GB Winter Flounder................. All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
GOM Winter Flounder................ All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
SNE/MA Winter Flounder............. All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Redfish............................ All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
White Hake......................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Pollock............................ All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Northern Windowpane Flounder....... CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
Southern Windowpane Flounder....... CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
Ocean Pout......................... CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Halibut................... See paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Wolffish.................. CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) * * *

Table 3 to Paragraph (c)(2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Open season Possession limit Closed season
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGOM Cod........................... May 1-May 31; 1.......................... June 1-August 31;
September 1-October November 1-April 30.
31.
WGOM Cod........................... May 1-May 31; 1.......................... June 1-August 31;
September 1-October November 1-April 30.
31.
GB Cod............................. May 1-May 31; 1.......................... June 1-August 31;
September 1-October November 1-April 30.
31.
SNE Cod............................ CLOSED................ No Retention............... All Year.
GB Haddock......................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
GOM Haddock........................ May 1-February 28 (or 15......................... March 1-March 31.
29) April 1-30.
GB Yellowtail Flounder............. All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.

[[Page 13007]]

SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder......... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder......... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
American Plaice.................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Witch Flounder..................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
GB Winter Flounder................. All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
GOM Winter Flounder................ All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
SNE/MA Winter Flounder............. All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Redfish............................ All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
White Hake......................... All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
Pollock............................ All Year.............. Unlimited.................. N/A.
N Windowpane Flounder.............. CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
S Windowpane Flounder.............. CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
Ocean Pout......................... CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Halibut................... See paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Wolffish.................. CLOSED................ No retention............... All Year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
(g) Regional Administrator authority for GB cod and EGOM cod
recreational measures. For the 2026 fishing year, the Regional
Administrator, after consultation with the NEFMC, may adjust
recreational measures for GB cod and EGOM cod to set consistent
measures with other stock areas, as appropriate. Appropriate measures,
including adjustments to fishing seasons, minimum fish sizes, or
possession limits, may be implemented in a manner consistent with the
Administrative Procedure Act, with the final measures published in the
Federal Register prior to the start of the fishing year when possible.
Separate measures may be implemented for the private and charter/party
components of the recreational fishery. Measures in place in fishing
year 2026 will be in effect beginning in fishing year 2027, and will
remain in effect until they are changed by a Framework Adjustment or
Amendment to the FMP, or through an emergency action.
* * * * *
0
9. Amend Sec. 648.90 by revising paragraphs (a)(4)(iii)(A)(1),
(a)(4)(iii)(I)(2), and (a)(4)(iii)(I)(3) to read as follows:

Sec. 648.90 NE multispecies assessment, framework procedures and
specifications, and flexible area action system.

* * * * *
(a) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) * * *
(A) * * *
(1) Stocks allocated. Unless otherwise specified in this paragraph
(a)(4)(iii)(A), the ABCs/ACLs for WGOM cod and GOM haddock set pursuant
to paragraph (a)(4) of this section shall be divided between commercial
and recreational components, based upon the average proportional catch
of each component for each stock during fishing years 2001 through
2006. The ABCs/ACLs for SNE cod set pursuant to paragraph (a)(4) of
this section shall first have the state and other non-specified
fisheries deducted as specified in paragraphs (a)(4)(iii)(B) and (C) of
this section, and then divided between commercial and recreational
components, as specified in a framework adjustment.
* * * * *
(I) * * *
(2) WGOM cod. For the purposes of allocating to the commercial NE
multispecies fishery, the remaining ABC for WGOM cod shall first be
apportioned between the WGOM cod northern and southern portions as
follows: 68 percent of the remaining ABC to the northern portion and 32
percent of the remaining ABC to the southern portion. The share of the
northern portion of WGOM cod allocated to a sector will be based on the
cumulative GOM cod PSCs of vessels participating in sectors calculated
pursuant to Sec. 648.87(b)(1)(i)(E). The share of the southern portion
of WGOM cod allocated to a sector will be based on the cumulative GB
cod PSCs of vessels participating in sectors. The northern and southern
portions shall then be summed for a final allocation to each sector and
to vessels operating under the provisions of the common pool. The WGOM
cod allocation may be fished throughout the entire geographic area of
the WGOM cod stock area, as defined at Sec. 648.88(a)(2).
(3) Atlantic cod stocks except WGOM cod. For the purpose of
allocating EGOM cod to the commercial NE multispecies fishery, the
cumulative GOM cod PSCs of vessels participating in sectors calculated
pursuant to Sec. 648.87(b)(1)(i)(E) shall be applied to the remaining
ABC for EGOM cod. For the purposes of allocating GB cod and SNE cod to
the commercial NE multispecies fishery, the cumulative GB cod PSCs of
vessels participating in sectors calculated pursuant to Sec.
648.87(b)(1)(i)(E) shall be applied to the remaining ABC for GB cod and
SNE cod.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2026-05250 Filed 3-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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