Draft EIS Available for Red Porgy, Black Sea Bass, Vermilion Snapper, Snowy Grouper and Golden Tilefish NOAA Fisheries Service and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are evaluating the environmental impacts of a range of management actions for red porgy, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, snowy grouper, and golden tilefish in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These management actions are part of a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. Stock assessments have been completed for red porgy, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, golden tilefish, and snowy grouper through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review process. The assessments revealed that all of these stocks, except red porgy, are subject to overfishing, and all stocks, except for golden tilefish and vermilion snapper, are overfished. (The biomass level of vermilion snapper is unknown). The red porgy stock is recovering as planned, indicating the rebuilding schedule approved for that stock in FMP Amendment 12 would support a moderate harvest increase. The Council decided at its June 2005 meeting to consider management actions for these five recently assessed stocks in a regulatory amendment. Written comments on the scope of this Draft EIS will be accepted through August 25, 2005. Comments may be sent by e-mail to:
The proposed actions would address overfishing of black sea bass, vermilion snapper, golden tilefish, and snowy grouper, and increase red porgy harvest to a level supported by the approved rebuilding schedule for that stock. Management measures currently being evaluated for the commercial sector in this draft EIS include new or adjusted catch quotas, size limits, trip limits, seasonal closures, fishing year start dates, and gear restrictions. Management measures currently being evaluated for the recreational sector include new or adjusted catch allocations, bag limits, size limits, and seasonal closures. The Council will continue to work on Amendment 13B while preparing the regulatory amendment.
Draft EIS Available for Red Porgy, Black Sea Bass, Vermilion Snapper, Snowy Grouper and Golden Tilefish
NOAA Fisheries Service and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are evaluating the environmental impacts of a range of management actions for red porgy, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, snowy grouper, and golden tilefish in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These management actions are part of a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
Stock assessments have been completed for red porgy, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, golden tilefish, and snowy grouper through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review process. The assessments revealed that all of these stocks, except red porgy, are subject to overfishing, and all stocks, except for golden tilefish and vermilion snapper, are overfished. (The biomass level of vermilion snapper is unknown). The red porgy stock is recovering as planned, indicating the rebuilding schedule approved for that stock in FMP Amendment 12 would support a moderate harvest increase. The Council decided at its June 2005 meeting to consider management actions for these five recently assessed stocks in a regulatory amendment.
The proposed actions would address overfishing of black sea bass, vermilion snapper, golden tilefish, and snowy grouper, and increase red porgy harvest to a level supported by the approved rebuilding schedule for that stock. Management measures currently being evaluated for the commercial sector in this draft EIS include new or adjusted catch quotas, size limits, trip limits, seasonal closures, fishing year start dates, and gear restrictions. Management measures currently being evaluated for the recreational sector include new or adjusted catch allocations, bag limits, size limits, and seasonal closures. The Council will continue to work on Amendment 13B while preparing the regulatory amendment.
Written comments on the scope of this Draft EIS will be accepted through August 25, 2005. Comments may be sent by e-mail to:
Jo***********@no**.gov.