Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 35

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 35 proposes to modify the greater amberjack rebuilding plan; establish greater amberjack sector annual catch limits (ACLs) and sector annual catch targets (ACTs); establish a commercial trip limit for greater amberjack; and revise the sector accountability measures (AMs) for greater amberjack. The intent of Amendment 35 is to end overfishing of greater amberjack, modify the greater amberjack rebuilding plan and help achieve optimum yield (OY) for the greater amberjack resource in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Agency Contact: Rich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, telephone 727-824-5305; email: rich.malinowski@noaa.gov.