Amendment No. 18A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

This Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council concerns effort capacity control and enforcement and monitoring issues for reef fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. It also concerns use of reef fish for bait and Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release. The Amendment is intended to improve enforcement and monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery, particularly with respect to illegal sale of reef fish caught under recreational bag and size limits, the use of reef fish for bait, and monitoring of vessels for compliance with closed or restricted areas. It requires the establishment and implementation a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) (satellite) in the reef fish fishery in order to improve enforceability of area restrictions.