<CENTER> <FONT SIZE=+2 COLOR="indigo"><B>2001 Annual Report on Groundfish Plan Released</B></FONT> </CENTER> <P> Newburyport, MA - The New England Fishery Management Council continues to face serious challenges as it continues to work toward rebuilding the region s groundfish stocks. An annual report authorized by the Council to evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts to manage a number of New England s valuable fish stocks such as cod, haddock and flounders, has announced mixed results on the effectiveness of the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan. The report underscores the difficulties in not only rebuilding, but in maintaining sustainable fisheries, while taking into account the social and economic impacts of regulations on fishing communities. The full Council will discuss the report and will consider, but not finalize, strategies to address issues identified in the document at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7 at the Tavern on the Harbor in Gloucester, MA. <P> As in the past, this year s Multispecies Monitoring Committee (MSMC) Report discusses the stock rebuilding progress for five key fish stocks. The report notes continued improvement in the stock status of Georges Bank haddock and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. Fishing mortality (a rate of removal attributed to fishing) is below the Council s target in the plan, spawning stock biomass (the weight of fish in a stock that are old enough to reproduce) has increased, and new year classes (juveniles) are continuing to show up in at-sea surveys of the stocks. Georges Bank cod spawning stock biomass has increased slightly, but is not yet rebuilt to target levels. Fishing mortality is higher than the Council s target and the appearance of new year classes, called recruitment, is poor. Further fishing restrictions are recommended. <P> The MSMC points out that the stock status of Southern New England yellowtail flounder remains largely unchanged from last year. Spawning stock biomass is well below the target level, and although fishing mortality has remained relatively constant, the overall poor condition of the stock indicates significant reductions in fishing are required. <P> Gulf of Maine cod also remains problematic. Although the spawning stock biomass has increased somewhat from historic low levels, fishing mortality is high and recruitment is poor. The report does note that the 1998 year class of Gulf of Maine cod is large and could provide the basis of more successful stock rebuilding in the future. Because Gulf of Maine cod still requires large reductions in fishing mortality to ensure stock rebuilding to target levels, the MSMC has recommended additional management measures to accomplish this goal. <P> The MSMC Report reviews the status of a total of 19 fish stocks. Exclusive of the stocks discussed in more detail above, most of these other stocks are increasing in biomass, but the report notes that Cape Cod yellowtail flounder and white hake have declined. <P> The MSMC is a ten-member independent committee that includes scientists and resource managers from state and federal fisheries agencies, as well as a fishermen and a representative of the U.S. Coast Guard. It was established to annually evaluate the effectiveness of measures in the Council s Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), project stock conditions for the remainder of the year, establish target total allowable catches (TTACs) for key stocks and develop options to reach the FMP objectives. The MSMC Report will be presented at the New England Fishery Management Council s meeting on Wednesday, November 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Tavern on the Harbor, Gloucester, MA. The report is available through the Council s website at www.nefmc.org. Copies also may be obtained by calling the Council office at 978/465-0492. <P> <HR ALIGN=LEFT COLOR="indigo" WIDTH=25%> <FONT COLOR="indigo">Release Immediately</FONT><BR> <FONT COLOR="indigo">Contact: <A HREF="MAILTO:pfiorelli@nefmc.org">Patricia M. Fiorelli</A></FONT> <P> <CENTER><A HREF="../releases.htm"><FONT SIZE=+1 COLOR="indigo">Return to NEFMC News Releases</FONT></A> <CENTER><A HREF="../../nefmc_main.htm#releases"><FONT SIZE=+1 COLOR="indigo">Return to NEFMC Home Page</FONT></A> <P> <IMG SRC="../../images/fishrule.gif" ALT="Fish Rule"></CENTER> <P> <CENTER><FONT COLOR="4b0082" SIZE="-1"><B>Copyright &copy 1999-2001 New England Fishery Management Council</B></FONT><BR> <FONT COLOR="4b0082" SIZE="-1">This page was last updated on November 5, 2001.</FONT><BR> <FONT SIZE=-2>Send comments regarding this web page to: <A HREF="MAILTO:mwp@nefmc.org"><I>mwp@nefmc.org</I></A></FONT> </BODY> </HTML>