Commercial harvest of Atlantic group cobia (Georgia through New York) will close in federal waters at 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2019. Commercial harvest will reopen in federal waters at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2020.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
- The 2019 commercial quota is 50,000 pounds round or gutted weight. NOAA Fisheries projects the 2019 Atlantic cobia quota for the commercial sector will be reached by September 4, 2019, based on reported landings to date and landings that are expected to be reported by dealers that do not have a federal dealer permit.
- This closure is necessary to protect the Atlantic cobia resource by preventing the commercial quota from being exceeded.
DURING THE CLOSURE:
- The operator of a vessel that is landing Atlantic cobia for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such cobia prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2019. The prohibition on sale and purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of Atlantic cobia that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2019, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
