Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Closure of the 2005 Shallow-Water Grouper Commercial Fishery

Resumen

NMFS has determined that the red grouper quota for the commercial fishery will have been reached by October 10, 2005, and therefore closes the commercial fishery for shallow-water grouper (red, black, gag, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind, and red hind) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. The existing regulations require closure of the entire shallow-water grouper commercial fishery when either the red grouper quota or the shallow- water grouper quota is reached or is projected to be reached. This closure is necessary to protect the shallow-water grouper resource.