Permit holders are prohibited from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring, or landing more than 10,000 lb of Illex squid per trip. Vessels can land Illex squid only once per calendar day. This prohibition is required by regulation because NOAA Fisheries projects that 95 percent of the 2020 annual catch limit (quota) will have been caught by the effective date. This fishery will reopen at the beginning of the 2021 fishing year, at 00:01 hours, January 1, 2021.
Why is this action being taken?
To avoid quota overages, we are required to close the Illex directed squid fishery when 95 percent of the quota is caught.
How much of the quota has been caught?
As of August 31, 2020, 95 percent of the quota for Illex squid has been projected to be caught. Quota monitoring reports are updated on the internet on our quota monitoring page.
What if I was fishing for Illex squid on the closure date?
Vessels that have entered port before 00:01 hr on August 31, 2020, may offload and sell more than 10,000 lb of Illex squid from that trip.
I am a dealer, how does this closure affect me?
Federally permitted dealers may not purchase Illex squid from federally permitted Illex squid vessels that harvest more than 10,000 lb of Illex squid through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2020, unless it is from a trip on which the vessel entered port before 00:01 hr on August 31, 2020.
