Updated landings data indicate the commercial annual catch limit for gray triggerfish was not met; therefore, NOAA Fisheries is re-opening commercial harvest of gray triggerfish.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and that is landing gray triggerfish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) November 14, 2013.
The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to sale or purchase of gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) November 14, 2013, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the re-opening, the commercial size limit for gray triggerfish is 12 inches total length off the coast of Eastern Florida only. Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina do not have size limits for landing commercially harvested gray triggerfish. There is no trip limit for gray triggerfish.
