Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2014 Commercial and Recreational Accountability Measures and Closures for Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial and recreational greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary final rule. This rule adjusts the 2014 recreational annual catch target (ACT) (equal to the recreational quota) and annual catch limit (ACL), based on final landings data from 2013, and closes the commercial and recreational sectors for Gulf greater amberjack. NMFS has determined that the commercial and recreational annual catch targets (ACTs) (equal to the commercial and recreational quotas, respectively) for Gulf greater amberjack will be reached by August 24, 2014. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial and recreational sectors for greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 25, 2014, until January 1, 2015. These closures are necessary to protect the Gulf greater amberjack resource.