Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2014 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for Deep-Water Complex in the South Atlantic Region

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial deep-water complex in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial landings for the deep-water complex, as estimated by the Science and Research Director, are projected to reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on July 10, 2014. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for the deep-water complex in the South Atlantic EEZ on July 10, 2014, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing season, January 1, 2015. This closure is necessary to protect the deep-water complex resource.