Summary
NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the Swordfish General Commercial permit retention limits in the Northwest Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Caribbean regions, as shown in the table below. This action is effective January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021, unless changed via subsequent action. Please see Figure 1 for a map of the regions.
|
Region |
Default Retention Limit per Vessel per Trip |
Adjusted Retention Limit per Vessel per Trip |
Effective Period (2021) |
|
Northwest Atlantic
|
3 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
6 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
January 1 – June 30 |
|
Gulf of Mexico
|
3 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
6 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
January 1 – June 30 |
|
U.S. Caribbean
|
2 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
6 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
January 1 – June 30 |
|
Florida Swordfish Management Area |
0 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
0 Swordfish/Vessel/Trip |
January 1 – June 30 |
These limits should provide additional opportunities to harvest the available U.S. North Atlantic swordfish quota without exceeding it, and to collect data for stock monitoring purposes.
Who is affected?
These retention limits apply to vessels issued a Swordfish General Commercial permit or a Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial endorsement (only when on a non for-hire trip). All swordfish sold under these permits and retention limits must be to a federally-permitted swordfish dealer.
NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor the North Atlantic swordfish fishery during 2021. Dealers are required to submit weekly landing reports. Depending on fishing effort and catch rates, additional retention limit adjustments or fishery closures may be necessary to ensure that available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas.
