Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures for the Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery for Fishing Years 2024–2027, Supplemental Environmental Assessment, including a Regulatory Impact Review

This SEA updates a 2019 EA and analyzes potential effects of a range of possible annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) Deep 7 bottomfish for fishing years 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27. A preferred ACL of 493,000 lb of Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI for each of the three fishing years. It is based on a recent stock assessment for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish, which shows the stock is healthy. The proposed action includes in-season AM and overall adjustments. Recent landings averaged 174,400 lb annually, so NMFS does not anticipate the fishery would reach the proposed limit in any fishing year. The ACL is not expected to change the fishery or have large and adverse effects.