View Rule

The proposed rule would update annual catch limits (ACL) for the queen triggerfish stocks in federal waters off St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John.  The need for this proposed rule is to update management reference points for the queen triggerfish stock under the St. Croix FMP and the St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management Plan (FMP) consistent with the most recent stock assessment to prevent overfishing and achieve optimum yield, consistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The proposed changes are not expected to affect landings of queen triggerfish and associated economic benefits because recent landings of queen triggerfish in St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John have not reached or exceeded their respective current ACL or proposed ACL. Consequently, queen triggerfish landings and associated revenues are not expected to change in either St. Croix or St. Thomas/St. John as a result of this action.