Commercial fishermen can no longer use gillnets for king mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico

US regulators have closed the commercial king mackerel fishery in the southern Gulf of Mexico for those using run-around gillnets. This means fishermen using this gear have reached their annual catch limit and must stop fishing for king mackerel in this area to protect the fish population.

This is a small, specific closure, but it shows how regulators manage fish populations in real time. When a specific fishing method hits its limit, the fishery closes for that method. This prevents overfishing and helps maintain the overall health of the king mackerel population.