Federal Registers has entered a rule establishing a grouper and tilefish IFQ program for commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. Several changes have been made in this rule to the red snapper IFQ program to align that program with the grouper and tilefish IFQ program.
A letter of IFQ shares and allocation was sent to each commercial reef fish permit holder, which informed individuals of his/her estimated grouper and tilefish IFQ shares and 2010 allocation. IFQ shares are the percent of the quotas assigned to each fisherman. Allocation is the pounds of fish each fisherman has the opportunity to harvest each year.
Individuals with no landings of grouper or tilefish during the qualifying period, or those acquiring a permit after September 30, 2009, did not receive initial shares or allocation. Appeals based on hardship factors will not be considered. NOAA Fisheries Service reef fish permit records are the sole basis for determining permit ownership. Appeals regarding landings data from 1999- 2004 will be based on NOAA Fisheries Service logbook records.
NOAA Fisheries Service will conduct workshops for shareholders and dealers throughout the Gulf region during November and December of this year. These workshops will address how to manage IFQ accounts, how to complete landing transactions and other online activities, and the regulations governing the IFQ program. Please see the table below for dates and locations.
