Reduction in the 2021/2022 Commercial Gillnet Quota for Gulf of Mexico Southern Zone King Mackerel
This NOAA Fishery Bulletin is provided as a courtesy:
What/When:
The 2021/2022 Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) commercial quota for the king mackerel gillnet component is 563,480 pounds (lbs).
The use of run-around gillnets for king mackerel is restricted to the Gulf southern zone (see map below).
The commercial harvest reduction is effective with the start of the 2021/2022 fishing season, January 18, 2022.
Why This Reduction is Happening:
The latest report for 2020/2021 Gulf king mackerel gillnet commercial landings indicates 587,320 lbs were harvested; 11,920 lbs greater than the 2020/2021 quota.
A commercial post-season accountability measure set by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and monitored by NOAA Fisheries requires a reduction in the next fishing year’s quota by the amount of the previous year’s quota overage.
As a result, the 2021/2022 quota is reduced from 575,400 lbs to 563,480 lbs.
This action is necessary to protect the king mackerel population and prevent overfishing.