Effective at 0845 hours on April 12, 2019, statistical areas 512, 513, 514, 515, 521, 522, and 525 are closed for the remainder of Trimester 3, through April 30, 2019. During this closure, common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear may not fish for, harvest, land, or possess regulated multispecies in or from this area. The closure is required because 90 percent of the Trimester 3 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for witch flounder is projected to have been caught. This area will reopen at the beginning of fishing year 2019, at 0001 hours, May 1, 2019.
If you have crossed the vessel monitoring system demarcation line and are currently at sea on a groundfish trip, you may complete your trip in all or part of the closed areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this action being taken?
We are required to close the Trimester TAC Area for a stock when 90 percent of the Trimester TAC is projected to be caught.
How much of the quota has been caught?
Based on data through March 29, 90 percent (4.05 mt) of the Trimester 3 quota (4.5 mt) for witch flounder is projected to have been caught. Check quota monitoring reports.
What happens if the Trimester TAC is exceeded?Underharvested?
If the Trimester 1 or Trimester 2 TAC for a stock is exceeded, the overage is deducted from the Trimester 3 TAC. Any unused portion of the Trimester 1 or Trimester 2 TAC for the stock is carried forward to the following trimester. No unused portion of the total annual quota may be carried over to the following fishing year.
What happens if the annual quota is exceeded?
If the 2018 fishing year quota is exceeded, the amount of the overage will be deducted from the common pool’s quota for fishing year 2019.
