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National Standard 1 Implementation: Annual Catch Limits |
The Gulf Council manages 48 species in 6 FMPs, not including the species in the coral FMP. The Reef fish FMP is the largest in terms of species, with 42 species. Four reef fish stocks are currently experiencing overfishing, and three are overfished. However, most stocks are unassessed and the status of many stocks is simply unknown. Reef fish amendments 30 A and B address overfishing of gray triggerfish and greater amberjack (30A), gag and red grouper (30B), but new assessments indicate that gag and red grouper may need revised management.
Up to now, the Gulf Council has not required any kind of catch limit and has no formal catch specification process for incorporating new information and adjusting catch specifications on an annual basis. Unless a stock has been assessed formally and is identified as overfished or subject to overfishing, no formal catch limit is required.
Annual Catch Limits: Omnibus Amendment
To comply with the new National Standard 1 (NS1) requirements for a system of annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs), the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is proposing an omnibus amendment to all the fishery Management Plans (FMPs). Under ordinary circumstances, pink shrimp is exempt from the ACL requirement as short-lived “life-cycle” species. However, because pink shrimp is currently experiencing overfishing, the exemption no longer applies. The Council is therefore required to develop measures to prevent overfishing of pink shrimp. The Science and Statistical Committee will be responsible for the application of control rules to set acceptable biological catch (ABC) levels for target species stocks.
As of June 2009, the Council has reviewed a draft ACL/AM scoping
document and voted to address ACL-related issues over the course of the
coming year. The Gulf Council has determined that its FMPs must be
fully compliant with the new requirements for ACLs and AMs by 2011.
Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures FAQ
ACL Implementation Timeline (subject to change)
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June 15-18,
2009 |
Council review of draft
ACL/AM scoping document. |
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September
22-24, 2009 |
Scoping meetings for ACLs and AMs
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October 19-22,
2009
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Joint SSC/Council
meeting: review joint IPT/SSC recommendations; select alternatives to
include for ACL and AM
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October-February 2010 |
IPT develops ACL/AM options paper
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February 1-4,
2010
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Council meeting –
review options paper |
February-April
2010
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IPT develops draft ACL/AM amendment
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April 12-15,
2010
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Council meeting: review
draft amendment; select public hearing locations |
April-June 2010
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IPT develops public hearing draft ACL/AM
amendment (EA/EIS?) |
June 14-17,
2010
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Council meeting: select
preferred alternatives; approve amendment for public hearings
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July 2010
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[NMFS] Draft ACL/AM
amendment published (with EA/EIS?) and comment period
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June-August
2010
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Hold public hearings
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August 16-19,
2010
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Council meeting – final
action |
September-October 2010
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IPT incorporates public
comments, sends Draft Final to Council for review |
October 25-28,
2010
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Council meeting – final
action: approve amendment (with EA/EIS?), approve proposed regulations,
approve for submission to NMFS |
November 2010
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Submit completed
amendment (with EA/EIS?) to NMFS
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March 2011 |
NMFS final rule
published |
April 2011
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Effective date
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Regions 