Amendment 17 establishes a biennial process for setting harvest levels and management measures for the groundfish fishery. Under Amendment 17, the groundfish management process takes place every two years, and the harvest levels and management measures set by the process are in effect for two years. From 1990 to 2004, specifications and management measures were implemented annually; 2005-2006 was the first biennial cycle.
NMFS approved Amendment 17 on August 20, 2003 and the final rule implementing regulations was published September 4, 2003 (68 FR 52519), with an effective date of October 6, 2003.