The 2014 commercial catch limit is 272,880 pounds whole weight. Landing reports indicate the catch limit will be met by May 12, 2014. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2015.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and who 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, May 12, 2014.
The prohibition on sale 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) May 12, 2014, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure:
- Harvest or possession of gray triggerfish in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits.
- Sale and purchase of gray triggerfish in or from federal waters is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for a person onboard a vessel with a federal snapper-grouper permit.
This closure is necessary to protect the snapper-grouper resource.
