Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently seeking public comment on Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic. The deadline for comments is February 23, 2009. Please see the attached Fishery Bulletin from the NMFS’ Southeast Regional Office for details on proposed regulations and how to submit comments. A copy of the relevant Federal Register Notice is also attached. Amendment 16 was approved by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in September 2008 for submission to the Secretary of Commerce. The amendment addresses overfishing for gag grouper and vermilion snapper as mandated by the Reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. This comment period is being conducted by the NMFS as part of the Secretarial review process. A copy of Amendment 16 is available on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net.
New measures* in Amendment 16 include:
· Management reference points and interim allocations for gag and vermilion snapper;
· A four month prohibition on recreational and commercial harvest of shallow-water grouper species including gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth grouper, and tiger grouper;
· A five month prohibition on recreational harvest of vermilion snapper;
· Modifications to gag and vermilion snapper commercial quotas;
· Reductions in recreational bag limits for vermilion snapper, gag, black grouper, and the grouper aggregate; and
· A requirement for the commercial and recreational sectors to use venting and dehooking tools when necessary.
* A recently completed age-based stock assessment for vermilion snapper shows the stock is not overfished but continues to experience overfishing at levels lower than indicated in an earlier length-based stock assessment. Amendment 16 allows for adjustments to the reductions in harvest of vermilion snapper necessary to end overfishing during the review process. The new assessment resulted in the Total Allowable Catch being increased from an original 566,179 pounds in Amendment 16 to 960,360 pounds (gutted weight). The larger TAC allows for an increase of the originally proposed recreational bag limit from 4 to 5 fish, and reduces the length of a recreational closure for the fishery by two months, resulting in a November through March closure. The change in TAC also allows for an increase in the commercial quota. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, management measures in Amendment 16 are expected to be in place later in 2009.
PLEASE NOTE: All comments regarding Amendment 16 must be submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service as outlined in the attached Fishery Bulletin.
Kim
Kim Iverson
Public Information Officer
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201
N. Charleston, SC 29405
843/571-4366 or Toll free 866/SAFMC-10
www.safmc.net
Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently seeking public comment on Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic. The deadline for comments is February 23, 2009. Please see the attached Fishery Bulletin from the NMFS’ Southeast Regional Office for details on proposed regulations and how to submit comments. A copy of the relevant Federal Register Notice is also attached. Amendment 16 was approved by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in September 2008 for submission to the Secretary of Commerce. The amendment addresses overfishing for gag grouper and vermilion snapper as mandated by the Reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. This comment period is being conducted by the NMFS as part of the Secretarial review process. A copy of Amendment 16 is available on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net.
New measures* in Amendment 16 include:
· Management reference points and interim allocations for gag and vermilion snapper;
· A four month prohibition on recreational and commercial harvest of shallow-water grouper species including gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth grouper, and tiger grouper;
· A five month prohibition on recreational harvest of vermilion snapper;
· Modifications to gag and vermilion snapper commercial quotas;
· Reductions in recreational bag limits for vermilion snapper, gag, black grouper, and the grouper aggregate; and
· A requirement for the commercial and recreational sectors to use venting and dehooking tools when necessary.
* A recently completed age-based stock assessment for vermilion snapper shows the stock is not overfished but continues to experience overfishing at levels lower than indicated in an earlier length-based stock assessment. Amendment 16 allows for adjustments to the reductions in harvest of vermilion snapper necessary to end overfishing during the review process. The new assessment resulted in the Total Allowable Catch being increased from an original 566,179 pounds in Amendment 16 to 960,360 pounds (gutted weight). The larger TAC allows for an increase of the originally proposed recreational bag limit from 4 to 5 fish, and reduces the length of a recreational closure for the fishery by two months, resulting in a November through March closure. The change in TAC also allows for an increase in the commercial quota. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, management measures in Amendment 16 are expected to be in place later in 2009.
PLEASE NOTE: All comments regarding Amendment 16 must be submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service as outlined in the attached Fishery Bulletin.
Kim
Kim Iverson
Public Information Officer
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201
N. Charleston, SC 29405
843/571-4366 or Toll free 866/SAFMC-10
www.safmc.net