Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2021 Commercial and Recreational Accountability Measure and Closures for Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper

Resumen

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the lane snapper commercial and recreational sectors in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2021 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has projected that the 2021 stock annual catch limit (ACL) for Gulf lane snapper will be reached by October 18, 2021. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial and recreational sectors for Gulf lane snapper on October 18, 2021, and they will remain closed through the end of the current fishing year on December 31, 2021. These closures are necessary to protect the Gulf lane snapper resource.