March 23, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in South Atlantic waters will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) March 29, 2016. The 2016 January-June commercial catch limit is 431,460 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate the catch limit will be met by March 29, 2016. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on July 1, 2016.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and that is landing vermilion snapper for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such vermilion snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, March 29, 2016. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of vermilion snapper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) March 29, 2016, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure:
- Harvest or possession of vermilion snapper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits.
- Sale and purchase of vermilion snapper in or from federal waters is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for a person onboard a vessel with a federal snapper-grouper permit.
This closure is necessary to protect the snapper-grouper resource.