FB18-066
FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: October 5, 2018

CONTACT: Lauren Waters, 727-824-5305, [email protected]


WHAT/WHEN/WHERE:
  • Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico closed at 12:01 am, local time, on October 7, 2018.
  • Commercial harvest will remain closed through the end of the year.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
  • The 2018 commercial quota is 60,900 pounds.  Data indicate that commercial landings of gray triggerfish met the quota.
  • In accordance with the regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close a fishery when the quota has been met. This closure is needed to prevent overfishing of this species.
  • Overfishing is defined as too many fish being caught each year.
  • As a result, commercial harvest will close in federal waters of the Gulf at12:01 a.m., local time, on October 7, 2018, and will remain closed through the end of the year, and will reopen at 12:01am, local time, on January 1, 2019.
DURING THE CLOSURE:
  • No commercial fisherman may fish for or keep gray triggerfish after 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 7, 2018.
  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a valid Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish permit.
  • Sale or purchase of any harvested gray triggerfish in or from federal waters is prohibited.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to trade in gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 2018, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.