Will Close on March 5, 2014
Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2015. The 2014 longline component commercial catch limit is 405,971 pounds gutted weight. Reports indicate the longline catch limit will be met by March 5, 2014.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and a golden tilefish longline endorsement that is landing golden tilefish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such golden tilefish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, March 5, 2014.
During the commercial longline closure:
- Golden tilefish may still be harvested commercially using hook-and-line gear.
- Vessels with a golden tilefish longline endorsement are not eligible to harvest golden tilefish using hook-and line gear.
- The commercial longline closure applies in both state and federal waters.
