December 12, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will reopen for two days on December 14 and December 15, 2016. Commercial harvest will reopen 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 14 th and close 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 16 th. During the two-day opening, the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper is 555 pounds whole weight or 500 pounds gutted weight.
On October 11, 2016, the commercial quota for the July through December 2016 season was projected to be met, and NOAA Fisheries closed the season. However, a recent landings update indicates that the vermilion snapper quota was not met. The 2017 January through June fishing season opens at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017.