NOAA Changes Ling (Cobia) Regs

NOAA Fisheries announces implementation of the final rule for Amendment 32 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region.

When Rule Will Take Effect:

Regulations become effective November 21, 2022.

What This Means:

• Amendment 32:
• Modifies the units used to monitor Gulf of Mexico migratory group cobia (Gulf group cobia) landings from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey to the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey,
• Modifies the Gulf group cobia population annual catch limit apportionment to 63% Gulf of Mexico Zone and 37% Florida East Coast Zone (Figure 1),
• Reduces the Florida East Coast Zone recreational annual catch target buffer to 10%,
• Specifies new overfishing limits and acceptable biological catch,
• Modifies the Framework Procedure to clarify the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council responsibilities for Gulf of Mexico group cobia and make some clarifying edits to language regarding the acceptable biological catch control rule.
• The rule:
• Increases the minimum size limit to 36 inches fork length for both sectors in the Florida East Coast Zone,
• Creates a recreational bag limit in both zones of 1 fish per person per day, regardless of the number or duration of trips,
• Creates a recreational vessel limit in both zones of 2 fish per trip, not to exceed the per person bag limit,
• Creates a commercial trip limit in both zones of 1 fish per person per day, regardless of the number or duration of trips, and a vessel limit of 2 fish per trip, not to exceed the per person limit,
• Clarifies Coastal Migratory Pelagic permitting requirements for sale and purchase provisions,
• Modifies the zone and sector annual catch limits and annual catch targets as indicated in Table 1 below.