Please note the following items regarding federally managed fisheries in the South Atlantic Region:
· NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on Amendment 17B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which establishes annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for nine snapper grouper species. Comment Period Ends November 22, 2010. See the attached NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fishery Bulletin for details on how to submit comments. (NOTE: Please do not send comments to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council office. The Council approved Amendment 17B in December 2009 for submission to the Secretary of Commerce in order to meet the mandates of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NOAA Fisheries is soliciting public comment as part of the Secretarial Review process.)
o Actions proposed in Amendment 17B include:
§ Prohibit the harvest and possession of speckled hind and warsaw grouper;
§ Prohibit fishing for, possession, and retention of deepwater species (snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, queen snapper, and silk snapper) seaward of 240 feet (depth) in South Atlantic federal waters;
§ Reduce the recreational bag limit of snowy grouper to one fish per vessel per trip. Establish a commercial ACL (quota) of 82,900 lbs. gutted weight (gw) and a recreational ACL of 523 fish;
§ Set an allocation for golden tilefish at 97% commercial and 3% recreational based on historic landings. Set a commercial ACL of 282,819 lbs. (gw) and a recreational ALC of 1,578 fish;
§ Establish ACLs for gag, black grouper, and red grouper.
· Commercial Closures: NOAA Fisheries Service Announces Commercial Fishing for Vermilion Snapper will Close to Vessels Fishing in South Atlantic Federal Waters on October 6, 2010. Commercial Fishing for Black Sea Bass Closes to Vessels on October 7, 2010. (See the attached Southeast Fishery Bulletins for details.)
· Reminder: The recreational fishery for vermilion snapper is closed annually from November 1 through March 31. Note: For a person on board a vessel for which a federal commercial or charter/headboat permit for the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery has been issued, the provisions for the closure of vermilion snapper would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or federal waters. Captain and crew of for-hire vessels may not retain the recreational bag and possession limits during the closure.
NOTE: Copies of Snapper Grouper Amendment 17B, as well as a comprehensive summary of Fishing Regulations for South Atlantic Federal Waters are available from the Council’s Web site at: www.safmc.net. The Southeast Fishery Bulletins and an FAQ for Snapper Grouper Amendment 17B are available from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm.
Please note the following items regarding federally managed fisheries in the South Atlantic Region:
· NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on Amendment 17B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which establishes annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for nine snapper grouper species. Comment Period Ends November 22, 2010. See the attached NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fishery Bulletin for details on how to submit comments. (NOTE: Please do not send comments to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council office. The Council approved Amendment 17B in December 2009 for submission to the Secretary of Commerce in order to meet the mandates of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NOAA Fisheries is soliciting public comment as part of the Secretarial Review process.)
o Actions proposed in Amendment 17B include:
§ Prohibit the harvest and possession of speckled hind and warsaw grouper;
§ Prohibit fishing for, possession, and retention of deepwater species (snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, queen snapper, and silk snapper) seaward of 240 feet (depth) in South Atlantic federal waters;
§ Reduce the recreational bag limit of snowy grouper to one fish per vessel per trip. Establish a commercial ACL (quota) of 82,900 lbs. gutted weight (gw) and a recreational ACL of 523 fish;
§ Set an allocation for golden tilefish at 97% commercial and 3% recreational based on historic landings. Set a commercial ACL of 282,819 lbs. (gw) and a recreational ALC of 1,578 fish;
§ Establish ACLs for gag, black grouper, and red grouper.
· Commercial Closures: NOAA Fisheries Service Announces Commercial Fishing for Vermilion Snapper will Close to Vessels Fishing in South Atlantic Federal Waters on October 6, 2010. Commercial Fishing for Black Sea Bass Closes to Vessels on October 7, 2010. (See the attached Southeast Fishery Bulletins for details.)
· Reminder: The recreational fishery for vermilion snapper is closed annually from November 1 through March 31. Note: For a person on board a vessel for which a federal commercial or charter/headboat permit for the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery has been issued, the provisions for the closure of vermilion snapper would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or federal waters. Captain and crew of for-hire vessels may not retain the recreational bag and possession limits during the closure.
NOTE: Copies of Snapper Grouper Amendment 17B, as well as a comprehensive summary of Fishing Regulations for South Atlantic Federal Waters are available from the Council’s Web site at: www.safmc.net. The Southeast Fishery Bulletins and an FAQ for Snapper Grouper Amendment 17B are available from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm.