July 27, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
KEY MESSAGE:
NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule for red grouper in the South Atlantic. This rule will reduce the annual catch limits (ACLs) for South Atlantic red grouper in response to the results of the latest population assessment. The assessment determined that red grouper in the South Atlantic is undergoing overfishing and is overfished.
WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:
- The rule will take effect on August 27, 2018.
WHAT THIS MEANS:
- The final rule will reduce the total and sector annual catch limits for red grouper.
- New annual catch limits (in pounds whole weight) are as follows:
|
Total ACL
|
Commercial ACL
|
Recreational ACL
|
|
|
2018
|
139,000 | 61,160 | 77,840 |
|
2019
|
150,000 | 66,000 | 84,000 |
|
2020 until modified
|
162,000 | 71,280 | 90,720 |
FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 83 FR 35435, published July 26, 2018