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Today NOAA Fisheries announced the proposed 2024 quota specifications for the golden and blueline tilefish fisheries north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. The proposed harvest limits for both species are status quo and are outlined in Tables 1 and 2. In addition, the rule proposes to shift the recreational season for blueline tilefish by two weeks. The new recreational season would be May 15 through November 14.
Table 1. Proposed Blueline Tilefish 2024 Specifications
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ABC – North of NC/VA line
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100,520 lb
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Recreational ACL / ACT
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73,380 lb
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Commercial ACL / ACT
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27,140 lb
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Recreational TAL
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71,912 lb
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Commercial TAL
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26,869 lb
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Table 2. Proposed Golden Tilefish 2024 Specifications
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ABC
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1,964,319 lb
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ACL
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1,964,319 lb
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IFQ fishery ACT
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1,763,478 lb
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Incidental fishery ACT
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92,815 lb
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IFQ fishery TAL = IFQ ACT
(no discards permitted in fishery)
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1,763,478 lb
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Incidental fishery TAL =
Incidental fishery ACT - discards
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75,410 lb
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*ABC=acceptable biological catch; ACT=annual catch target; ACL=annual catch limit; TAL=total allowable landings
The rule also proposes to adjust some ancillary dates in the regulations that derive from the start of the fishing year, but were not updated when the start of golden tilefish fishing year was changed to January 1.
For more details, please read the proposed rule as filed in the Federal Register. Comments on this rule must be received by December 14, 2023 through our online e-rulemaking portal.
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