The commercial harvest of gray triggerfish closed today (May 8th) because the 272,880 lbs. annual catch limit is projected to have been met. However, the fishery should reopen by June with an additional 39,445 lbs. that can be landed because Snapper-Grouper Amendment 29 should go into effect, increasing the commercial ACL to 312,325 lbs., splitting that ACL into two triggerfish seasons: 50 percent January-June and 50 percent July-December, and setting a 1,000 lbs. trip limit.
Amendment 29 will also increase the recreational triggerfish ACL from 353,638 lbs. to 404,675 lbs. Last year, the recreational ACL was met in late November and the fishery closed.
Gray triggerfish is one of the 76 percent of snapper-grouper species of which the stock status is unknown because of the lack of a stock assessment. The ACL is currently calculated based on historical landings. That will change next year when the results of a first-ever triggerfish stock assessment that is now underway are reported.
This closure is the result of the SAFMC just out right guessing. Closures like this do some very bad things.
1 Hurt the families that depend on fishing for a way of life
2 Increase the cost of fish to incredibly high levels, placing high quality protein out of reach for many Americans.
3 Increases the importation of seafood from overseas countries, like Swai, and many other species that are harvested or grown in questionable circumstances.
4 Encourages exporting countries to damage and deplete their resources.
Many of these closures are in place with out science or studies, for no other reason than to placate the enviro groups. Go in your local seafood market and check out the prices!
The Recreational season is still open,…Correct?
“one of the 76 percent of snapper-grouper species of which the stock status is unknown” That’s the statement that kills me. I fail to understand how a government agency can be allowed to continue to exist when they apparently can’t do the job they were created to do.
If my company president walked up to me and asked “what’s the overall health of our equipment” and I responded by saying “I’m not sure, there is 76% of the equipment that I don’t have any data or accurate data on”, I promise you I would be looking to sell my services to some one else.
End of rant, Thanks Mr Tom
Just like with black Seabass they have no clue as to the status of the population. With each new closure they show just how ignorant they are. I am still waioting to see how many days we can catch endangered Red Snapper.
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”