Temporary Gag Regulations for the Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico to be Extended
NOAA Fisheries Service announces the extension of a temporary rule that set the commercial quota of gag, suspended the use of red grouper multi-use individual fishing quota commercial allocation, and set the gag recreational season. The rule will be extended through June 2, 2012, or until long-term regulations are implemented to replace the temporary rule.
The temporary rule:
• Set the commercial quota at 430,000 pounds.
• Suspended the use of red grouper individual fishing quota multi-use allocation, which could be used to harvest gag.
• Established a recreational season from September 16 through November 15.
For commercial fishermen with gag individual fishing quota shares, extending the rule will mean the initial 2012 allocation will be based on 430,000 pounds and that no red grouper allocation will be designated multi-use. Amendment 32 supports an increase in the commercial quota to 567,000 pounds as well as continues the suspension of the use of red grouper individual fishing quota multi-use allocation to harvest gag.
For the recreational sector, the prohibition of harvest of gag will continue in 2012. Amendment 32 proposes a 2012 gag season from July 1 to October 31.
Gag is considered overfished meaning the population abundance is too low and undergoing overfishing meaning the rate of removal too high. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires that overfished stocks be rebuilt and that overfishing be halted. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) requested NOAA Fisheries Service extend the gag temporary rule. The Council has submitted to NOAA Fisheries Service a long-term plan to address gag stock rebuilding through Amendment 32.
Copies of the temporary rule extension are available by contacting NOAA Fisheries Service’s Southeast Regional Office at 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. The rule extension can be obtained in electronic form from the Federal Register Web site:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html (use advanced search using “BA04” as a keyword).
Need more information on these topics?
Southeast Regional Office’s Web page:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.
Southeast Fishery Bulletin
National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701