Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2019 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that Gulf greater amberjack landings in 2018 exceeded the commercial annual catch target (ACT) and landings will have met the adjusted 2019 commercial ACT by June 9, 2019. Therefore, the commercial fishing season for greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will close on June 9, 2019, and the sector will remain closed until the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2020. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf greater amberjack resource.