2012 Accountability Measures for Gulf of Mexico Commercial Greater Amberjack and Closure of the Commercial Sector for Greater Amberjack

摘要

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2012 fishing year through this temporary final rule, and announces the closure of the 2012 commercial sector for greater amberjack of the Gulf reef fish fishery. This rule reduces the 2012 commercial quota for greater amberjack to 237,438 lb (107,700 kg), based on the 2011 quota overage. The commercial fishing season opened on January 1, 2012 and is closed March 1-May 31. The season is scheduled to re-open on June 1, however, NMFS has determined that the 2012 adjusted commercial quota for Gulf greater amberjack was harvested in January and February of 2012. Therefore, the commercial sector for greater amberjack will remain closed for the remainder of the 2012 fishing year. These actions are necessary to reduce overfishing of the Gulf greater amberjack resource.