August 24, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is announcing a reduction in the southern red hake in-season possession limit adjustment trigger from 90 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL) to 40.4 percent (123.2 mt) of the TAL because of a 2018 overage of the annual catch limit (ACL). In 2018, the fleet caught 49.6 percent more than the ACL allowed triggering the accountability measure that reduces the in-season possession limit adjustment trigger by 1 percent for each percent the ACL was exceeded.
Review of catch reports indicate that the new in-season possession limit trigger, that will be put into place by this action, has been reached (i.e., 145 mt of southern red hake have been harvested). As a result, the possession limit for southern red hake will be reduced from 5,000 lb to the incidental possession limit of 400 lb for the remainder of the fishing year.
This rule becomes effective August 25, 2020. For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.