Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council approves changes to Triggerfish fishery

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has approved changes to the Gray Triggerfish fishery to help protect the species from overfishing and to help rebuild the stock by 2017.

Reef Fish Amendment 37 establishes annual catch limits and annual catch targets for triggerfish as well as a commercial trip limit of 12 gray triggerfish and a 2-fish recreational bag limit within the 20-reef fish aggregate bag limit.

It also creates both a commercial and recreational fixed closed season during peak spawning from June 1st through July 31^st and allows NOAA Fisheries to close the recreational fishery if the annual catch target is reached.

The amendment will be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation.  

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