Final Framework Action to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico Modifications to Gray Triggerfish Catch Levels

The proposed rule would increase the Gulf gray triggerfish catch limits. The proposed rule would increase the Gulf gray triggerfish ABC to 456,900 lbs ww and retain the ACL equaling the ABC. The ACL sector allocation of 21% commercial (ACL= 95,949 lbs ww) and 79% recreational (ACL= 360,951 lbs ww) would also be retained. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s ACL/ACT Control Rule was used to calculate a new buffer between the sector ACLs and ACTs. The commercial ACT would be 88,273 lbs ww (8% buffer) and the recreational ACT would be 274,323 lbs ww (24% buffer). These increased buffers should help with preventing a sector exceeding its ACL and with preventing overfishing. No significant impacts are expected and there are not any known issues or problems.