Pacific Island Fisheries; Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures for Mariana Bottomfish Management Unit Species in the Guam Management Subarea

Official abstract: NMFS is modifying the annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for Mariana bottomfish management unit species (MUS) in the Guam Management Subarea (the fishery). The rule increases the ACL from 31,000 pounds (lb) (14,061 kilograms (kg)) to 34,500 lb (15,649 kg), replaces the in-season AM with a post-season overage adjustment if the average catch from the most recent 3 years exceeds the ACL, and removes the higher performance standard that closes the fishery in Federal waters for any overage. The rule is based on the best available scientific, commercial, and other information about the fishery, and supports rebuilding of the fishery.