La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § VII-385

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-385 - Management Targets for Selected Finfish Species

A. Policy. The stocks of black drum, sheepshead, and southern flounder shall have management targets established within this rule. Management targets shall be established utilizing a historical time-series of fisheries data, defined for each stock, as a basis of reference. The reference time-series is developed utilizing a period of time within the most recent assessment where recruitment has not been impacted and sustainability has been demonstrated for each stock. The biomass and fishing mortality rate of each stock over this historical time-series shall be derived from the beginning of the assessed period through 2013. If data indicate that a stock is not meeting or is likely not to meet thresholds established in the assessment of the stock, the department shall provide, for the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commissions consideration, management options to ensure that a stock can remain within the management thresholds established for that particular stock.

B. Management Targets

1. Biomass targets shall be calculated as the average (geometric mean) spawning stock biomass (SSB) from each stocks historical time-series.

2. Fishing mortality rate targets shall be the fishing mortality rate that corresponds to each stocks SSB targets at equilibrium.

3. Biomass and fishing mortality rate targets shall be calculated based upon a historical time-series from the beginning of the assessed period through 2013, inclusive.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § VII-385

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, Office of Fisheries, LR 421695 (10/1/2016).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S.56:6(25)(a), R.S. 56:320.2(C), R.S. 56:326.1, R.S. 56:326.3, and R.S. 325.4.