A final rule implementing these regulations published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2012 (77 FR 219), with an effective date of December 13, 2012.
Commercial Fishing Trip Limit & Season
The rule establishes a commercial trip limit of 2,000
pounds throughout the fishing year.
The trip limit will
allow for a longer fishing season for the commercial
sector.
The commercial fishing season re-opens on
January 1, 2013. The 2013 commercial closed season
will be March 1 through May 31, and will re-open on
June 1st, as long as the annual catch target has not been
exceeded or is projected to be exceeded.
Recreational Fishing Season
No changes were implemented for the 2013 fishing
season that opens on January 1, 2013, and will remain
open through May 31, 2013.
The annual recreational
fishing season closure will occur as scheduled from June
1, 2013, through July 31, 2013, and the fishing season
will re-open on August 1
st
, as long as the annual catch
target has not been exceed.
Annual Catch Limits
In response to a 2010 update stock assessment, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended a new annual catch limit equal to the acceptable biological catch at 1,780,000 pounds, which is less than the current annual catch limit of 1,830,000 pounds whole weight (pounds).
Annual Catch Targets
The Council established annual catch targets, which act
as quotas for the commercial and recreational sectors.
The catch target provides a buffer for management
uncertainty, intended to keep landings less than the
annual catch limits.
The commercial allocation is 27
per cent and the recreational allocation is 73 per cent of
the allowable catch. Until a future stock assessment is
completed, or the annual catch limit is exceeded, the
commercial quota will be 409,000 pounds, and the
recreational quota will be 1,130,000 pounds.
The 2013
commercial quota will be reduced by the 2012 landing
overage after those numbers have been finalised.
