November 4, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:
Today NOAA Fisheries announces that 1,900 mt of butterfish quota has been transferred to the directed butterfish fishery from the quota allocated to cover the butterfish mortality cap. This will enable the directed butterfish fishery to remain open, and is not expected to impact the operation of the longfin squid fishery (which catches butterfish incidentally) for the remainder of the fishing year.
NOAA Fisheries is allowed to transfer quota between the directed butterfish fishery and the butterfish mortality cap if quota is not being used under one of the allocations, but a closure is likely for the other allocation. As of October 30, 2014, 86 percent of the directed butterfish quota had been landed, but only 12 percent of the butterfish mortality cap had been caught.
Please click here for a copy of the Fishery Bulletin that provides more information about this quota allocation transfer in the butterfish fishery.