History of the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish FMP Year Document Management Action 1978 Atlantic Mackerel FMP Established management of Atlantic mackerel fishery 1978 Atlantic Butterfish FMP Established management of Atlantic butterfish fishery 1978 Squid FMP Established management of squid fisheries 1979 Atlantic Mackerel Amendment 1 Continued management of the Atlantic mackerel fishery 1979 Squid Amendment 1 Continued management of the squid fishery 1980 Atlantic Butterfish Amendment 1 Continued management of the Atlantic butterfish fishery 1980 Atlantic Mackerel Amendment 2 Continued management of the Atlantic mackerel fishery 1980 Atlantic Butterfish Amendment 2 Continued management of the Atlantic butterfish fishery 1983 Merged FMP Consolidated management of Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fisheries under a single FMP 1984 Amendment 1 Implemented squid OY adjustment mechanism Revise Atlantic mackerel mortality rate 1986 Amendment 2 Equated fishing year with calendar year Revised squid bycatch TALFF allowances Implemented framework adjustment process Converted expiration of fishing permits from indefinite to annual 1991 Amendment 3 Established overfishing definitions for all four species 1991 Amendment 4 Limited the activity of directed foreign fishing and joint venture transfers to foreign vessels Allowed for specification of OY for Atlantic mackerel for up to three years 1996 Amendment 5   (Supplemental) Adjusted Loligo MSY Eliminated directed foreign fisheries for Loligo, Illex, and butterfish Instituted a dealer and vessel reporting system Instituted an operator permitting system Implemented a limited access system for Loligo, Illex and butterfish Expanded the management unit to include all Atlantic mackerel, Loligo, Illex, and butterfish under U.S. jurisdiction. 1997 Amendment 6 Revised the overfishing definitions for Loligo, Illex, and butterfish Established directed fishery closure at 95% of DAH for Loligo, Illex and butterfish with post-closure trip limits for each species Established a mechanism for seasonal management of the Illex fishery to improve the yield-per recruit 1997 Amendment 7 Established consistency among FMPs in the NE region of the U.S. relative to vessel permitting, replacement and upgrade criteria 1998 Amendment 8 Brought the FMP into compliance with new and revised National Standards and other required provisions of the Sustainable Fisheries Act Added a framework adjustment procedure 2001 Framework 1 Created a quota set-aside for the purpose of conducting scientific research 2002 Framework 2 Extended the moratorium on entry to the Illex fishery for an additional year Established that previous year specifications apply when specifications for the management unit are not published prior to the start of the fishing year (excluding TALFF specifications) Allowed for the specification of management measures for Loligo for a period of up to three years 2003 Framework 3 Extended the moratorium on entry to the Illex fishery for an additional year 2004 Framework 4 Extended the moratorium on entry to the Illex fishery for an additional five years 2007 Amendment 12 Standardized bycatch reporting methodology 2008 Amendment 9 (Volume 1) (Volume 2) Allowed for multi-year specifications for all four managed species (mackerel, butterfish, Illex, and Loligo) for up to 3 years Extended the moratorium on entry into the Illex fishery, without a sunset provision Adopted biological reference points for Loligo recommended by the stock assessment review committee (SARC) Designated EFH for Loligo eggs based on available information Prohibited bottom trawling by MSB-permitted vessels in Lydonia and Oceanographer Canyons 2010 Amendment 10 Implemented a butterfish rebuilding program Increased the Loligo minimum mesh in Trimesters 1 and 3 Implemented a 72-hour trip notification requirement for the Loligo fishery 2010     Amendment 13 Omnibus Amendment that implemented Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), Annual Catch Targets (ACTs), and Accountability Measures (AMs).

Last Updated:  August 23, 2011