Federal Register #2026-20140

NOAA rule increases Guam Mariana bottomfish catch limit and revises accountability measures

NOAA issued a final rule changing catch limits and accountability measures for Mariana bottomfish in Guam’s federal waters. - Government buyer and issuing agencies: U.S. Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). - Regulatory action: In the Guam Management Subarea, the annual catch limit for Mariana bottomfish management unit species increases from 31,000 pounds to 34,500 pounds. - Accountability measures: The rule replaces the in-season measure with a post-season adjustment if the average catch over the most recent three years exceeds the limit. It removes the requirement to close the federal-water fishery for an overage; the following fishing year’s limit may instead be reduced by the overage through a separate rulemaking. - Procurement: This is a regulatory action, not a request to purchase products or services. No OEMs, vendors, products, quantities, or part numbers are identified.

Description

The final rule modifies the annual catch limit and accountability measures for Mariana bottomfish management unit species in the Guam Management Subarea. It increases the annual catch limit from 31,000 pounds to 34,500 pounds and replaces the in-season measure with a post-season adjustment if the average catch over the most recent three years exceeds the limit. It also removes the higher performance standard that would close the fishery in federal waters for any overage. The rule is effective November 2, 2026, and is intended to support rebuilding of the fishery.

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