Crabtree, Roy E.

"The purpose of the Generic Annual Catch Limits/Accountability Measures Amendment for the Gulf of Mexico is to implement measures expected to prevent overfishing and achieve optimum yield (OY) while minimizing to the extent practicable adverse social and economic effects. Long-term measures include the implementation of the following items: 1) changes to the reef fish fishery management unit, including the removal of some species and the development of species groups; 2) establish ABC and ACL/ACT control rules; 3) ACLs and annual catch targets (ACTs); 4) establish a framework procedure for modifying ACLs and ACTs, control rules, and management measures; 5)commercial and recreational percent allocation of black grouper; 5) accountability measures (AMs) if limits and targets are projected to be exceeded or have been exceeded; and 6) regulations necessary to ensure mortality is at or below the annual limits and targets. OY, the ultimate goal of any fishery management plan, is the portion of the fish stock that provides the greatest economic, social, and ecological benefit to the nation"--Abstract.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)