Guam Bottomfish Fishery Rebuilding Plan (0648-BK66)

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to implement Amendment 6 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Mariana Archipelago (FEP). If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 6 would establish a rebuilding plan with an annual catch limit (ACL) of 31,000 lb starting in 2022. The Council expects the bottomfish stock to be rebuilt within eight years. If NMFS determines that the fishery reaches the ACL, we would close Federal waters to bottomfish fishing until NMFS and Guam develop a coordinated management strategy that ensures that the catch in both Federal and territorial waters is maintained at levels that allow the stock to rebuild.