U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik disapproved the New England Fishery Management Council’s proposed Amendment 25 to the Northeast groundfish plan, sending it back to the council for revisions – or developing a new amendment.

The council proposed dividing the present two cod stocks into four geographic units, with new, separate annual catch limits (ACLs) for each units. The plan was protested by New England fishermen after the council’s approval in December 2024.

“These restrictions are going to be the end of the trawlers and anyone else buying fish,” New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) CEO Jerry Leeman said then. “Everyone in the fisheries expects Addendum 25 to torpedo their businesses.”

The National Marine Fisheries Service announced Lutnik’s decision in a May 28 statement. The amendment is disapproved “on the basis that Amendment 25 and its supporting analyses do not adequately demonstrate how the proposed action is consistent with National Standard 1 or other required provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,” according to the agency. 

However, the four-stock Atlantic cod structure “and the resulting management track stock assessments have been determined to be the best scientific information available,” and  National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that the council incorporate these cod stocks into the Northeast groundfish fisheries management plan.

“The Council may do so by revising and resubmitting Amendment 25 or by developing a new amendment to the FMP,” according to NMFS.

The 2025 groundfish season should be able to continue during the next ensuing rounds of debate. NMFS published ab emergency rule May 2 to ensure the fishery can continue, while avoiding gaps in approved specifications and other management measures for 2025, during consideration of Amendment 25 and Framework 69.

For now the emergency action continues to allocate Atlantic cod quota and management measures based on the prior two stock units.