At the New England Fishery Management Council’s request, NOAA Fisheries took emergency action to increase the Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the 2023 fishing year. NOAA Fisheries increased the fishing year 2023 ABC to the fishing mortality associated with the maximum sustainable yield (FMSY) (2,515 mt).
The emergency measures were included in the final rule for Framework Adjustment 65 (88 FR 56527; August 18, 2023). The emergency measures will expire on February 14, 2024, under the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s initial 180-day limit on the duration of an emergency action. The Magnuson-Stevens Act allows an extension of emergency actions for up to 186 days. We are extending the emergency measures through the end of the 2023 fishing year (April 30, 2024), consistent with the Council’s emergency action request and our analysis for fishing year 2023. Extending the emergency action will prevent the GOM haddock ABC from reverting to 75-percent FMSY (1,936 mt) when the emergency action expires.
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