September 29, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:
The commercial harvest for greater amberjack in South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) October 4, 2016, and will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on March 1, 2017. The 2016-2017 commercial quota for greater amberjack is 769,388 pounds gutted weight. Commercial landings are approaching the commercial catch limit and should close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and is landing greater amberjack for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such greater amberjack prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 4, 2016.
During the commercial closure:
- Sale or purchase of greater amberjack is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
- Harvest or possession of greater amberjack is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.
- The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 4, 2016, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
This closure is necessary to protect the greater amberjack resources by preventing the commercial annual catch limit from being exceeded.