Amendment 54: Modifications to Greater Amberjack Catch Limits, Sector Allocation, and Rebuilding Plan

Reef Fish 54 considers alternatives to adjust the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) greater amberjack overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and sector annual catch limits and annual catch targets consistent with the most recent Southeast Data Assessment and Review 70 stock assessment, which determined the stock remained overfished and undergoing overfishing, and recommendations from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Science and Statistical Committee. In doing so, alternatives consider modifying the units used to monitor Gulf greater amberjack landings from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey to the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey. Additionally, Amendment 54 considers alternatives to revise the Gulf greater amberjack commercial and recreational sector allocation.

The need is to end overfishing and rebuild the greater amberjack stock as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, update existing greater amberjack catch limits and allocations to be consistent with best scientific information available, FMP objectives, and contemporary data collection methods.