Proposed Rule Would End Overfishing on Several Species NOAA Fisheries has published a
In commercial fisheries, this proposed rule would establish restrictive quotas for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass and, after the quotas are met, prohibit all purchase and sale of the applicable species and restrict all harvest and possession to the applicable bag limit; establish restrictive trip limits for snowy grouper and golden tilefish; require at least 2-inch mesh in the back panel of black sea bass pots; require black sea bass pots to be removed from the water after the quota is reached; change the fishing year for black sea bass; increase the trip limit for red porgy; and establish a red porgy quota that would allow a moderate increase in harvest.
In recreational fisheries, this proposed rule would reduce the bag limits for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, and black sea bass; increase the minimum size limit for vermilion snapper and black sea bass; change the fishing year for black sea bass; and increase the bag limit for red porgy.
Comments on this proposed rule must be received no later than 5pm on July 24. Send comments to: 06****************@no**.gov.
PUBLIC COMMENTS REQUESTED ON AMENDMENT 13C TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP) FOR THE SNAPPER GROUPER FISHERY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION CHANGES INTENDED TO REDUCE HARVESTS, END OVERFISHING AND ACHIEVE OPTIMUM YIELD
Snowy grouper:
• Decrease the annual commercial quota over three years from 151,000 pounds gutted weight (lbs gw) to 84,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• decrease the commercial trip limit over three years from 275 lbs gw to 100 lbs gw in year 3; and
• limit possession to one per person per day within the 5-grouper per person per day aggregate recreational bag.
Golden tilefish:
• Reduce the annual commercial quota to 295,000 lbs gw;
• reduce the commercial trip limit to 4,000 lbs gw, which would decrease to 300 lbs gw if 75 percent of the quota were taken by September 1; and
• limit possession to one per person per day within the 5-grouper per person per day aggregate recreational bag limit.
Vermilion snapper:
• Establish an annual commercial quota of 1,100,000 lbs gw; and
• increase the recreational minimum size limit from 11-inch total length (TL) to 12-inch TL.
Black sea bass:
• Establish and decrease an annual commercial quota, over three years from 477,000 lbs gw to 309,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• require the use of at least 2-inch mesh for the entire back panel of pots;
• remove pots from the water once the commercial quota is met;
• change commercial and recreational fishing years from the calendar year to June 1 through May 31;
• establish a recreational allocation that would decrease over three years from 633,000 lbs gw to 409,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• increase the recreational size limit from 10-inch TL to 12-inch TL over two years; and
• reduce the recreational bag limit from 20 to 15 per person per day.
Red porgy:
• Increase the commercial trip limit during May through December;
• establish a commercial quota of 127,000 lbs gw; and
• increase the recreational bag limit from 1 to 3 red porgy per person per day.
Proposed Rule Would End Overfishing on Several Species
NOAA Fisheries has published a
proposed rule to implement Amendment 13C to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. Amendment 13C proposes management measures to end overfishing of snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass and measures to allow moderate increases in recreational and commercial harvest of red porgy consistent with an updated assessment for that stock.In commercial fisheries, this proposed rule would establish restrictive quotas for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass and, after the quotas are met, prohibit all purchase and sale of the applicable species and restrict all harvest and possession to the applicable bag limit; establish restrictive trip limits for snowy grouper and golden tilefish; require at least 2-inch mesh in the back panel of black sea bass pots; require black sea bass pots to be removed from the water after the quota is reached; change the fishing year for black sea bass; increase the trip limit for red porgy; and establish a red porgy quota that would allow a moderate increase in harvest.
In recreational fisheries, this proposed rule would reduce the bag limits for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, and black sea bass; increase the minimum size limit for vermilion snapper and black sea bass; change the fishing year for black sea bass; and increase the bag limit for red porgy.
Comments on this proposed rule must be received no later than 5pm on July 24. Send comments to: 06****************@no**.gov.
PUBLIC COMMENTS REQUESTED ON AMENDMENT 13C TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP) FOR THE SNAPPER GROUPER FISHERY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION CHANGES INTENDED TO REDUCE HARVESTS, END OVERFISHING AND ACHIEVE OPTIMUM YIELD
Snowy grouper:
• Decrease the annual commercial quota over three years from 151,000 pounds gutted weight (lbs gw) to 84,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• decrease the commercial trip limit over three years from 275 lbs gw to 100 lbs gw in year 3; and
• limit possession to one per person per day within the 5-grouper per person per day aggregate recreational bag.
Golden tilefish:
• Reduce the annual commercial quota to 295,000 lbs gw;
• reduce the commercial trip limit to 4,000 lbs gw, which would decrease to 300 lbs gw if 75 percent of the quota were taken by September 1; and
• limit possession to one per person per day within the 5-grouper per person per day aggregate recreational bag limit.
Vermilion snapper:
• Establish an annual commercial quota of 1,100,000 lbs gw; and
• increase the recreational minimum size limit from 11-inch total length (TL) to 12-inch TL.
Black sea bass:
• Establish and decrease an annual commercial quota, over three years from 477,000 lbs gw to 309,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• require the use of at least 2-inch mesh for the entire back panel of pots;
• remove pots from the water once the commercial quota is met;
• change commercial and recreational fishing years from the calendar year to June 1 through May 31;
• establish a recreational allocation that would decrease over three years from 633,000 lbs gw to 409,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• increase the recreational size limit from 10-inch TL to 12-inch TL over two years; and
• reduce the recreational bag limit from 20 to 15 per person per day.
Red porgy:
• Increase the commercial trip limit during May through December;
• establish a commercial quota of 127,000 lbs gw; and
• increase the recreational bag limit from 1 to 3 red porgy per person per day.