Greater Amberjack
The Council took final action on Amendment
35 to the Reef Fish Management Plan. This amendment, if approved and
implemented by NOAA Fisheries, will:
35 to the Reef Fish Management Plan. This amendment, if approved and
implemented by NOAA Fisheries, will:
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| Photo: Walter Stone |
• Set the Annual
Catch Limit at 1,780,000 pounds and the Annual Catch Target at 1,539,000 pounds.
Catch Limit at 1,780,000 pounds and the Annual Catch Target at 1,539,000 pounds.
• Retain the
recreational 30’’ minimum size limit and June-July season closure.
recreational 30’’ minimum size limit and June-July season closure.
• Establish
a 2000 pound commercial trip limit and retain the March-May commercial season
closure.
a 2000 pound commercial trip limit and retain the March-May commercial season
closure.
This amendment was developed after
the stock assessment showed that amberjack is both overfished (population is
too low) and experiencing overfishing (rate of removals is too high).
the stock assessment showed that amberjack is both overfished (population is
too low) and experiencing overfishing (rate of removals is too high).
The Gulf Council’s scientific
advisors recommended that the greater amberjack Acceptable Biological Catch be
set at 1,780,000 pounds whole weight. As a rule, an Annual Catch Limit cannot
be higher than the Acceptable Biological Catch, so the current stock Annual
Catch Limit of 1,870,000 million pounds whole weight had to be adjusted.
Council held public hearing meetings and solicited comments online asking the public what types of management measures would suit them best and, as usual, opinions varied across the Gulf. You can check out the comments that were submitted between August 2011 and February 2012 here, and view comments received between February 2012 and April 2012 here.
Greater amberjack is in the 9th
year of its rebuilding plan, which is scheduled to end in 2012. Management
measures in this amendment are expected to reduce overfishing but, until a new
stock assessment is completed, it is unknown if greater amberjack will meet its
rebuilding schedule.
If you have any questions about greater amberjack don’t hesitate to contact me: [email protected]