How does an Annual Catch Limit (ACL) relate to the OFL?

• A. The ACL is the enforcement cap set at or below the OFL to prevent overfishing, with a buffer for uncertainty.
• B. The ACL is always set above the OFL.
• C. The ACL determines the maximum sustainable yield.
• D. The ACL must exceed the OFL by 10%.

Answer: (A)

Understanding how the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) relates to the Overfishing Limit (OFL) is about precaution and control. The OFL is the maximum catch level that would not be allowed if it caused overfishing; it marks the boundary beyond which the stock would be at risk. The ACL, as the enforceable yearly cap, is set at or below that boundary to ensure actual harvest stays within safe limits. A buffer is often built into the ACL to account for scientific and measurement uncertainty, so even with imperfect data or reporting, the fishery remains below the level that could trigger overfishing. In practice, this means the ACL protects the stock by keeping annual removals on a conservative path relative to the OFL. The other ideas—ACL ever exceeding the OFL, ACL defining maximum sustainable yield, or needing a fixed percentage above the OFL—don’t align with how these limits are designed to function.