NOAA Fisheries implements rule to limit fishing for gray triggerfish

NOAA Fisheries Service has announced a temporary rule to control the harvest of gray triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The temporary rule reduces the catch limits and sets commercial and recreational quotas for the fish.

The rule will be effective for 180-days to give the public time to comment and could be extended after that.

Too many Gulf of Mexico gray triggerfish are being caught each year so The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council asked for a temporary reduction in gray triggerfish fishing while they work on long-term solutions to let the population increase in size.

To reduce overfishing, NOAA Fisheries Service's temporary rule reduces the recreational catch limit to 241,200 pounds and the commercial quota to 64,100 pounds.

That’s a cut of about 50 percent in both fisheries.

The temporary rule also includes a provision to close the recreational season if the quota is met.

The comment period on the rule ends on June 13^th.

You can find electronic copies of the rule and supporting documentation at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Web site at gulfcouncil.org.

You can submit comments at the Federal e-Rulemaking website at regulations.gov. 

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