The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a rule to establish annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) for bottomfish in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to promote sustainability. These measures, effective from 2020 to 2022 for Guam and 2020 to 2023 for the Northern Mariana Islands, aim to prevent overfishing and rebuild fish stocks if necessary. Public comments on this proposal are being requested, with a submission deadline of March 15, 2021. The NMFS plans to adjust catch limits in future years based on average catches to maintain healthy fish populations.
Simple Explanation
The government wants to make sure there are enough fish in the ocean for people to catch now and in the future. So, they're setting limits on how many fish can be caught around the Mariana Islands each year. They're also checking to make sure these rules help keep the fish numbers healthy and not too many fish are taken.