Red Crab Plan Overview
The Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was developed by the Council and implemented by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in October 2002, bringing this fishery under regulation for the first time. The FMP requires that the Council recommend an annual catch limit (ACL) and total allowable landings (TAL) that will control the fishing mortality rate (F) for periods of up to three years. Estimates of stock size, coupled with the target F, allow for a calculation of acceptable biological catch (ABC), which is recommended to the Council by its Scientific and Statistical Committee.Related News, Press Releases, and Announcements
- Council Approves 2024-2027 Deep-Sea Red Crab Specifications
- Council Approves Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specifications for 2020-2023 Fishing Years
- New England Joins Mid-Atlantic to Require eVTRs for Vessels with Federal Commercial Permits for Council-Managed Species
- NEFMC Seeks Applicants for Fishery Advisory Panels
- Council Approves 2017-2019 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specs
Upcoming Meetings
There are currently no upcoming meetings for Red Crab
Past Meetings
Plan Amendments, Frameworks, and Specifications
Plan Amendments
June 25, 2021
This Amendment is part of the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment.
February 7, 2020
This Amendment is part of the Omnibus Industry-Funded Monitoring Amendment and Environmental Assessment.
June 30, 2015
This action establishes standards of precision for bycatch estimation for all Northeast Region fisheries.
September 29, 2011
This final rule implements measures that were approved in Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan
April 9, 2018
This action implements approved regulations for the New England Fishery Management Council’s Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2.
February 27, 2008
The measures include: Bycatch reporting and monitoring mechanisms; analytical techniques and allocation of at-sea fisheries observers; an SBRM performance standard; a review and reporting process; framework adjustment and annual specifications provisions; a prioritization process; and provisions for industry-funded observers and observer set-aside programs
NMFS is implementing approved management measures contained in the Standardized Bycatch Reporting DATES: This final rule is Methodology (SBRM) Omnibus Amendment (SBRM Amendment) to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) of the Northeast Region, developed by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils). The SBRM Amendment establishes an SBRM for all 13 Northeast Region FMPs, as required under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
NMFS is implementing approved management measures contained in the Standardized Bycatch Reporting DATES: This final rule is Methodology (SBRM) Omnibus Amendment (SBRM Amendment) to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) of the Northeast Region, developed by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils). The SBRM Amendment establishes an SBRM for all 13 Northeast Region FMPs, as required under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Framework Adjustments/Specifications
February 8, 2024
This action proposes fishing year 2024-2027 specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery.
April 14, 2020
This action contains fishing year 2020-2023 specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery.
May 19, 2020
Omnibus Clam Dredge Framework
February 22, 2017
February 22, 2017
This action implements specifications for the 2017 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including an annual catch limit and total allowable landings limit, and projects quotas for 2018–2019. This action is necessary to establish allowable red crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish the allowable 2017 harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
December 26, 2018
This action finalizes specifications for the 2019 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including an annual catch limit and total allowable landings limit. This action is necessary to fully implement previously projected allowable red crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish the allowable 2019 harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
This action implements specifications for the 2017 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including an annual catch limit and total allowable landings limit, and projects quotas for 2018–2019. This action is necessary to establish allowable red crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish the allowable 2017 harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
December 26, 2018
This action finalizes specifications for the 2019 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including an annual catch limit and total allowable landings limit. This action is necessary to fully implement previously projected allowable red crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish the allowable 2019 harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
August 31, 2005
This final rule modifies the existing annual review and specification process by allowing specifications to be set for up to 3 years at a time, and continues the current target total allowable catch (TAC) of 5.928 million lb (2.69 million kg) and fleet days-at-sea (DAS) of 780 fleet DAS for fishing year (FY) 2006 and FY2007.
December 13, 2013