Lane Snapper, Triggerfish Limits Changed

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a framework action to increase the lane snapper catch limits and modify the fishing season closure accountability measure. The most recent update assessment of lane snapper used catch and effort data from the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES), and indicated that there has been an increase in lane snapper stock biomass. This allows for an increase in the lane snapper catch limits. The Council voted to increase the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and annual catch limit in pounds whole weight, but not establish an annual catch target as follows:

The Council also voted to modify the lane snapper fishing season closure by monitoring harvest annually and prohibiting lane snapper harvest if the annual catch limit is harvested. This is expected to prevent overharvest in the future. The Council will submit the proposed increase to lane snapper catch limits to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation as soon as practicable.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council also took final action on a framework action to increase the gray triggerfish acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, and annual catch targets for both sectors. A 2020 interim analysis used a combined video index survey as a representative index of abundance which indicated that the stock biomass has increased in recent years. Based on this information, and recommendations from the Scientific and Statistical Committee, the Council increased the acceptable biological catch and sector-specific annual catch limits and annual catch targets using the ACL/ACT Control Rule as follows:

Note: gray triggerfish catch advice will continue to be provided in the MRIP Coastal Household Telephone Survey currency until a stock assessment is completed on gray triggerfish

The Council will submit the proposed increase to gray triggerfish catch limits to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation as soon as practicable.