Based on recent landings data, effective at 12:00 hours on August 15, 2018, the directed federal Illex squid fishery is closed for the remainder of the fishing year through December 31, 2018. Permit holders are prohibited from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring, or landing more than 10,000 lb of Illex squid per trip. No more than 10,000 lb may be landed per calendar day.
This prohibition is required by regulation because NOAA Fisheries projects that 95 percent of the 2018 annual catch limit (quota) will have been caught by the effective date. This fishery will reopen at the beginning of the 2019 fishing year, at 00:01 hours, January 1, 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 15, 2018, 95 percent of the quota for Illex squid has been caught. Check the quota monitoring reports for the latest updates.
What if I was fishing for Illex squid on the closure date?
Vessels that have entered port before 12:00 hr on August 15, 2018, 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, 2018, unless it is from a trip on which the vessel entered port before 12:00 hr on August 15, 2018.
