The Gulf Council announced that it is working on a generic amendment to implement catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for the remainder of the stocks it manages. For stocks managed jointly but the South Atlantic and Gulf Councils (coastal migratory pelagics and spiny lobster) separate joint ACL amendments will be developed. This is done to ensure that overfishing does not occur.
In this way the Council is required to rebuild stocks to levels that will support maximum sustainable yield – the largest catch that can be taken from a stock over an indefinite period. Annual catch limits must be established by 2010 for all fisheries where overfishing is occurring, and by 2011 for all other fisheries. It is informed that the Council has established ACLs and AMs for those stocks that are classified as overfished or undergoing overfishing (greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, red snapper and gag), as well as for red grouper. These ACLs are subject to adjustment when new stock assessments are completed.
In the amendments there will management actions which includes allowing or prohibiting the use of squid as bait in the bottom longline fishery; longline time/area closures; longline endorsements to fish east of Cape San Blas; modifications to fishing practices and gear; framework modification for total allowable catch.
The Council said that the public hearings for this amendment will be held in May and June. According to a 2006-2008 NOAA Fisheries Service report, the number of threatened loggerhead sea turtles that have been caught in the bottom longline fishery has exceeded authorized levels.
