August 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Effective August 30
NOAA Fisheries is closing the directed Illex fishery in federal waters through the end of the fishing year, December 31, 2021.
Effective at 0001 hour on August 30, 2021, vessels are prohibited from fishing for or landing more than 10,000 lb of Illex squid per trip in or from federal waters through December 31, 2021. Vessels may not land Illex squid more than once per calendar day.
Landings information analyzed by NOAA Fisheries projects the Illex squid fishery will meet 94 percent of the annual quota for the 2021 fishing year on August 30,2021.
If you have started a trip prior to August 30, 2021, you may offload and sell more than 10,000 lb of Illex squid from that trip, as long as the vessel entered port before 0001 hr on August 30, 2021.
For more information, please read the notice as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.