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Modifications to Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Commercial Trip Limits: Final Framework Action to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
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2019
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Description:The commercial sector harvest of Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) greater amberjack is managed to an annual catch target (ACT; also referred to as a quota) and harvest is closed for the remainder of the fishing year when the ACT is met or projected to be met. The commercial season opens January 1 each year, is closed from March 1 through May 31 to protect the stock during the spawning period, and re-opens on June 1 if the ACT has not been met. Greater amberjack are not a common target species for the reef fish commercial sector and are typically caught while fishers are seeking other reef fish. As a result, the majority of Gulf reef fish commercial trips land less than 500 lbs gutted weight (gw) of greater amberjack. Still, commercial landings for greater amberjack routinely meet or exceed the ACT before the end of the commercial fishing year, requiring an in-season closure and sometimes a payback (see details in “Landings” below) of any overage, if the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) is exceeded. During public comment at Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) meetings, commercial fishers have indicated a preference for as long of a fishing season as possible, since these incidentally caught fish must be discarded if the season is closed. The Council established a commercial trip limit of 2,000 lbs whole weight (ww) (1,923 lbs gw) in 2013 (GMFMC 2012), and reduced the trip limit to 1,500 lbs gw in 2016 (GMFMC 2015). To extend the duration of the commercial fishing season for as long as possible, the Council is considering further reductions in the commercial trip limit.
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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Compliance:Submitted
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