1. Timing of Accountability Measure (AM)-Based Closures
Amendment 8 to the Reef Fish FMP, Amendment 7 to the Spiny Lobster FMP, and Amendment 6 to the Coral FMP
Goal: To the extent practicable, minimize the socio-economic impact of AM-based closures, while still constraining catch levels to the applicable annual catch limits and preventing overfishing.
Action 1: Modifies the date for the application of AM-based closures from current end date of Dec 31 to Sep 30 backward into the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. Any additional fishing season reduction would be applied from Oct 1 forward. Action 2: Specifies a maximum of 2 years from implementation and every 2 years thereafter for revisiting and potentially revising the approach selected to set AM-based closures.
Specifically, rather than implementing closures at the end of the fishing year, i.e., from December 31 going backward into the year, as is currently done, AM-based closures would be implemented on September 30 going backward into the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. If the length of the required fishing season reduction exceeds the period of January 1 through September 30, any additional fishing season reduction would be applied from October 1 forward, toward the end of the year (i.e., December 31). The resultant AM closure would be expected to occur during a time of year when the economic and/or cultural impacts are less severe.

2. Timing of Accountability Measure (AM)-Based Closures
Amendment 8 to the Reef Fish FMP, Amendment 7 to the Spiny Lobster FMP, and Amendment 6 to the Coral FMP
STATUS
157th Meeting – Amendment approved by Council for submission to Secretary of Commerce
Amendment submitted by Council on Oct 13, 2016
Notice of Availability (60 days) and Proposed Rule (30 days) will be published soon for comment (Federal Register)
Final Rule expected to be effective in early 2017
Any AM-based closures needed in 2017 will start on Sep 30, and move backward into the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings.