Commercial harvest of Greater Amberjack in Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico Will Close on June 20, 2017
WHAT/WHEN: Commercial harvest of greater amberjack in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will close on June 20, 2017. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time on January 1, 2018.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
· The latest report for greater amberjack landings through June 12, 2017, indicates 98 percent of the quota was harvested. As a result, commercial harvest will sclose in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico on June 20, 2017.
DURING THE CLOSURE:
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Any person aboard a vessel for which a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued must comply with the closure regardless of where the fish are harvested.
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No greater amberjack caught in Gulf of Mexico federal waters after the closure date may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold.
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The prohibition of sale does not apply to trade in greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore and bartered, traded, or sold before the closure, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.