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Commercial Gillnet Harvest of King Mackerel in Federal Waters of the Southern Florida West Coast Subzone Will Close on February 10, 2017

February 10, 2017

FB17-007 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Bulletin: For more information, contact: Kelli O'Donnell (727) 824-5305

What/When:

Commercial gillnet harvest of king mackerel in federal waters of the Southern Florida West Coast Subzone will close on February 10, 2017.  Commercial gillnet harvest will reopen at 6:00 a.m. (local time) on January 16, 2018.

Why This Closure is Happening:

  • The 2017 commercial gillnet quota is 551,448 pounds.  Updated landings data indicate that commercial gillnet harvest of king mackerel will reach the quota by February 10, 2017.  
  • As a result, commercial gillnet harvest will close in federal waters of the Southern Florida West Coast Subzone.
  • From November 1 through March 31, the southern subzone is that part of federal waters off Collier and Monroe Counties, Florida.  Beginning April 1, the southern subzone is reduced to the area off Collier County, Florida.
  • The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial king mackerel permit with a gillnet endorsement and who is landing king mackerel for sale must have harvested, landed ashore, and sold before 12:01 p.m., local time, February 10, 2017.
  • In accordance with the regulations NOAA Fisheries is required to close a fishery when the quota has been met. This closure is needed to prevent overfishing.

During the Closure:

  • No person aboard a vessel with a commercial king mackerel permit with a gillnet endorsement may fish for king mackerel using a run-around gillnet in the closed subzone after 12:01 p.m. on February 10, 2017.
  • No person aboard a vessel possessing a gillnet with a stretched-mesh size of 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) or larger may fish for or possess king mackerel in this zone during the closure. 
  • Sale or purchase of gillnet harvested king mackerel in or from federal waters in the Southern Florida West Coast Subzone is prohibited.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to trade in king mackerel that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before 12:01 p.m., February 10, 2017, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • The hook-and-line component of the fishery remains open in this subzone at this time. 
  • A vessel for which a king mackerel gillnet endorsement has been issued may not retain king mackerel in or from federal waters harvested with any other gear.

 

 

NOAA Fisheries Southeast is pleased to announce the introduction of our Text Message Alert Program.  The program will allow you to sign up to receive important fishery related alerts via text message. Text alerts you may receive include immediate fishery openings and closures, and any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.

How to opt-in

Sign up for related alerts for one or more of the following groups. Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.

  • Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries: Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
  • Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries: Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
  • South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries: Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
  • South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries: Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
  • Caribbean Fisheries: Text CARIBFISH to 888777

Last updated by Southeast Regional Office on March 18, 2019