Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces Changes to Commercial Regulations for Snapper-Grouper Species in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region

January 28, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

KEY MESSAGES:

NOAA Fisheries announces the final rule for Vision Blueprint Commercial Regulatory Amendment 27 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. The final rule will:

  • Modify commercial regulations for blueline tilefish, snowy grouper, greater amberjack, red porgy, vermilion snapper, almaco jack, Other Jacks Complex (lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish), queen snapper, silk snapper, blackfin snapper, and gray triggerfish.
  • Modify commercial fishing seasons, trip limits, and minimum size limits.

WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:

Regulations will be effective February 26, 2020.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES FOR COMMERCIAL SNAPPER-GROUPER SPECIES:

Blueline Tilefish

  • The final rule reduces the commercial trip limit from 300 to 100 pounds gutted weight from January 1 through April 30; and
    Retains the commercial trip limit of 300 pound gutted weight from May 1 through December 31.

Snowy Grouper

  • The final rule establishes two commercial fishing seasons of January 1 through June 30 (Season 1) and July 1 through December 31 (Season 2); and
  • Allocates 70% of the commercial catch limit to Season 1 and 30% to Season 2, and transfer any remaining quota from Season 1 to Season 2.

Greater Amberjack

  • The final rule establishes two commercial fishing seasons of March 1 through August 31 (Season 1) and September 1 through the end of February (Season 2);
  • Allocates 60% of the commercial catch limit to Season 1 and 40% to Season 2, and transfer any remaining quota from Season 1 to Season 2;
  • Retains the commercial trip limit of 1,200 pounds whole weight or gutted weight for Season 1;
  • Retains the commercial sale and purchase prohibition during April, and the harvest and possession limit is one per person per day or one per person per trip, whichever is more restrictive; and
  • Reduces the commercial trip limit from 1,200 to 1,000 pounds whole weight or gutted weight for Season 2.

Red Porgy

  • The final rule establishes two commercial fishing seasons of January 1 through April 30 (Season 1) and May 1 through December 31 (Season 2);
  • Allocates 30% of the commercial catch limit to Season 1 and 70% to Season 2, and transfer any remaining quota from Season 1 to Season 2;
  • Removes the sale and purchase prohibition and the possession limit of three fish per person per day or three fish per person per trip during January 1 through April 30 each year;
  • Establishes a commercial trip limit of 60 fish in Season 1; and
  • Retains the 120 fish commercial trip limit in Season 2.

Vermilion Snapper

  • The final rule retains the 50% split quotas of the commercial catch limits between January 1 through June 30 (Season 1) and July 1 through December 31 (Season 2);
  • Retains the commercial trip limit of 1,000 pound gutted weight; and
  • Removes the 500 pound gutted weight commercial trip limit when 75% of the seasonal quotas are met or projected to be met.

Other Jacks Complex (lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish)

  • The final rule establishes a commercial trip limit of 500 pounds gutted weight.

Almaco Jack

  • The final rule establishes a commercial minimum size limit of 20 inches fork length.

Deep-water Species (queen snapper, silk snapper, and blackfin snapper)

  • The final rule removes the 12-inch total length commercial minimum size limit for queen snapper, silk snapper, and blackfin snapper.

Gray Triggerfish

  • The final rule reduces the commercial minimum size limit in the exclusive economic zone off the east coast of Florida from 14 inches to 12 inches fork length; and
  • Retains the commercial minimum size limit of 12 inches fork length off North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 85 FR 4588, January 27, 2020.

May 1st Triggers Opening of Shallow-Water Grouper and Other Species in the South Atlantic

April 26, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Spring is in the air – and that means fishing! Beginning May 1st, fishermen will have a few more species to target in South Atlantic federal waters (greater than 3 miles off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the east coast of Florida). May 1st marks the beginning of the shallow-water grouper season, following the annual spawning season closure from January 1st through April 30th.

Regulations also change for red porgy, greater amberjack, snowy grouper, and several other species.

Check out the latest blog for more details.

Always Have the Latest Regulations with You!

Before heading offshore, download the Fish Rules mobile application. Then simply check for updates before your next fishing trip and you’ll have the information with you no matter how far your fishing trip takes you. No signal? No problem. None required to access the correct information once the app is updated.

Fish Rules Download:
iPhone or
Android

Questions? Contact Cameron Rhodes, Outreach Specialist at cameron.rhodes@safmc.net or Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or call the Council Office at 843/224-7258.

Triggerfish and amberjack seasons cut short by feds

March 25, 2019 — Better hurry if you want to catch a triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico.

And get ready to wait a long time before you can put an amberjack in the icebox.

The recreational season for gray triggerfish will close on May 11, and will not reopen again until March of 2020. The 2019 season is just 72 days, instead of the usual 173 days. It is possible, depending on federal estimates of the 2019 harvest, that triggerfish could remain closed even longer.

Greater amberjack season, meanwhile, which would normally reopen on May 1 will remain closed until August. That’s because federal officials estimated that fishermen caught the entire annual quota of amberjack for the last year during August, September and October of 2018.

Read the full story at AL.com

SAFMC: May 1st Triggers Opening of Shallow-Water Grouper and Other Species in the South Atlantic

May 1, 2018 — The following was release by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Spring is in the air – and that means fishing! Beginning tomorrow, May 1st, fishermen will have a few more species to target in federal waters in the South Atlantic region (greater than 3 miles off the coasts of NC, SC, GA and the East Coast of FL).  May 1st marks the beginning of the shallow-water grouper season, with an annual spawning season closure in effect from January 1st through April 30th.  Regulations also change for red porgy, greater amberjack, snowy grouper, and several other species.

Check out the latest blog for more details.

Always Have the Latest Regulations with You!

Before heading offshore, download the Fish Rulesmobile application. Then simply check for updates before your next fishing trip and you’ll have the information with you no matter how far your spring fishing takes you offshore. No signal? No problem. None required to access the correct information once the app is updated.

Fish Rules Download: 

iPhone or Android

Note: Beginning May 7, 2018 commercial regulation information will also be available via Fish Rules. Learn more in the FAQ section available from the Council’s website page.

 

SAFMC: Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for the Snapper Grouper Fishery

April 26, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on a number of measures proposed for both recreational and commercial fishermen targeting species in the snapper grouper management complex. The management measures are being proposed in two amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan as part of the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery.

Vision Blueprint Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 26 (Recreational):

The amendment proposes modifying the species composition of recreational aggregates to better reflect how fishermen are currently fishing and allow more focused management measures (i.e., for deep-water species). Alternatives for aggregate bag limits, minimum size limits and gear requirements are included. The regulatory amendment also proposes modification to the spawning season closure for red grouper off the North and South Carolina coasts, removing the minimum size limit for three deep-water snappers, and reducing the minimum size limit for gray triggerfish off the east coast of Florida to bring consistency with regulations in state waters.

Vision Blueprint Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 27 (Commercial):

The amendment addresses concerns over equitable access for commercial fishermen fishing in the snapper grouper fishery and proposes measures to help minimize discards. The regulatory amendment includes actions for split commercial seasons for blueline tilefish, snowy grouper, greater amberjack, and red porgy. The amendment also includes actions to modify the commercial trip limit for blueline tilefish, greater amberjack, red porgy, and vermilion snapper. Other measures include specifying a minimum size limit for almaco jack, implementing a trip limit for the Other Jacks complex, extending the seasonal closure for red grouper in federal waters off North Carolina and South Carolina, removing the minimum size limit for three deep-water snappers, and reducing the commercial minimum size limit for gray triggerfish off the east coast of Florida.

Additional information for each amendment, including public hearing summaries, video presentations, and other materials is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Public Hearings via Webinar with Listening Stations  

Public hearings will be held via webinar with Listening Stations in areas as noted below. Area Council members will be present at each of the Listening Stations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record to offer their comments for consideration by the Council during the webinars.

Webinar registration is required for each public hearing. 

Webinar #1 – May 8, 2018 at 6 pm

Listening Stations

Haddrell’s Point Tackle

885 Ben Sawyer Blvd.

Mt Pleasant, SC

Southeast Regional Branch Library

10599 Deerwood Park Blvd

Jacksonville, FL

NC Division of Marine Fisheries

Southern District Office

127 Cardinal Drive Extension

Wilmington, NC 

Webinar #2 – May 9, 2018 at 6 pm

Listening Stations

Cocoa Beach Public Library

550 North Brevard Avenue

Cocoa Beach, FL 

NC Division of Marine Fisheries

Central District Office

5285 Hwy 70 West

Morehead City, NC 

Webinar #3 – May 10, 2018 at 6 pm

Listening Stations

Murrells Inlet Community Center

4462 Murrells Inlet Rd

Murrells Inlet, SC 

Marathon Government Center – BOCC

2798 Overseas Hwy, 2nd Floor

Marathon, FL

Hatteras Community Building

57689 NC Hwy 12

Hatteras, NC

Written Comments

The Council is also accepting written comments until May 11, 2018 at 5 p.m.Written comments may be submitted using the online comment form and also be viewed via the website. Additional information on how to submit written comments is available from the website.

 

SAFMC: January 1, 2018 brings changes to federal fishing regulations in the South Atlantic!

December 21, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council reminds commercial and recreational fishermen about several fishery openings and closures in federal waters of the South Atlantic effective January 1, 2018. Below is a summary of the changes to regulations on January 1, 2018. Other regulatory openings and closures not listed here will occur later in the year. For detailed regulatory information including trip limits, size limits, and bag limits, please visit the Regulations & Fish ID page of the Council’s website.

Commercial Openings:

The following species REOPEN* to harvest on January 1, 2018:

• Golden tilefish • Gray triggerfish • Blueline tilefish • Jacks complex (includes almaco jack, banded rudderfish, and lesser amberjack) • Snowy grouper • Vermilion snapper • Hogfish (FL and FL Keys) • Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (GA-NY)

Commercial Closures:

The following species are CLOSED to harvest effective January 1 through April 30, 2018. These fisheries will reopen May 1, 2018:

• Shallow water grouper, spawning season closure (includes gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney) • Red porgy

Recreational Openings:

The following species REOPEN* to harvest on January 1, 2018:

• Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (GA-NY)

Recreational Closures:

The following species are CLOSED to harvest effective January 1 through April 30, 2018. These fisheries will reopen May 1, 2018:

• Shallow water grouper, spawning season closure (includes gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney) • Snowy grouper • Blueline tilefish

Additionally, harvest of wreckfish is CLOSED January 1 through June 30, 2018 and will reopen July 1, 2018.

Read the full release from the SAFMC here.

 

Recreational Closure for Greater Amberjack in South Atlantic Federal Waters on October 31, 2017

October 27, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

WHAT/WHEN:

The recreational harvest of greater amberjack in South Atlantic federal waters will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, October 31, 2017.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

The 2017 recreational catch limit is 1,167,837 pounds whole weight. Recreational landings have met the recreational catch limit.  According to the accountability measure, recreational harvest must close.

DURING THE CLOSURE:

During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limits of greater amberjack in or from federal waters are zero. Because commercial harvest is also closed, the prohibition on harvest or possession of greater amberjack applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6#_top.

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here.

 

Commercial Closure for Greater Amberjack in South Atlantic Federal Waters on October 18, 2017

October 13, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

The commercial harvest of greater amberjack in South Atlantic federal waters will close at 12:01 a.m. on October 18, 2017. During the commercial closure, harvest or possession of greater amberjack in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational fishery is open.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

  • The 2017 commercial catch limit is 769,388 pounds gutted weight. Commercial landings have met the commercial catch limit. According to the accountability measure, commercial harvest should close.

DURING THE CLOSURE:

  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase during a closure for greater amberjack does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 18, 2017, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6#se50.12.622_1190.

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here.

NOAA Announces Gulf Red Snapper Harvest to Open June 1

April 29, 2016 — NOAA Fisheries has announced the recreational season for the harvest of red snapper in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will open at 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2016. The bag and possession limit is two fish per person at a 16-inch minimum total length.

Last year, NOAA Fisheries, through the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council), made the decision to split the recreational red snapper quota into two distinct components – private anglers and charter vessels and headboats (for-hire). Each component has its own quota allocations based upon NOAA’s recreational red snapper harvest estimates. Private anglers will have a 9-day federal season running through June 9th closing at 11:59 p.m., and charter vessels / headboats will have a 46-day federal season, closing July 16th at 11:59 p.m.

The “Louisiana-only” season

The season for the recreational harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters is currently open, will remain open during the federal season, and will continue to be open after the federal season closes. LDWF monitors real-time red snapper harvest during 2016 through the LA Creel program.

Recreational Offshore Landing Permit

The Department reminds anglers that a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is required in order to posses certain species, including red snapper. Anglers may obtain or new the permit, free of charge at https://rolp.wlf.la.gov.

The permit is required for any angler possessing tuna, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, snappers, hinds, wahoo, cobia and dolphin, except for anglers under 16 years of age or anglers fishing on a paid-for-hire trip where the captain holds a permit.

Read the full story at The Fishing Wire

US fisheries continue to rebuild thanks to NOAA’s management process

April 25, 2016 — As a result of the combined efforts of NOAA Fisheries, the regional fishery management councils, and other stakeholders, in 2015 two stocks were rebuilt and the number of stocks listed as subject to overfishing or overfished remains near an all-time low.

“On the 40th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), we recognize that our dynamic, science-based management process is proving to be successful at ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, helping us realize significant benefits to the economy,” NOAA Fisheries stated in its annual report.

NOAA pointed out that based on the assessments carried out at the end of 2015, the findings are the following:

  • 28 stocks were on the overfishing list, from which some were removed, such as hogfish (Eastern Gulf of Mexico Puerto Rico Scups & Porgies Complex Puerto Rico Wrasses Complex), thorny skate (Gulf of Maine), winter skate (Georges Bank/ Southern New England), windowpane (Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank), greater amberjack (Gulf of Mexico), gray triggerfish (Gulf of Mexico). Others were added, such as hogfish (Southeast Florida), chinook salmon (Columbia River Basin: Upper River Summer), chinook salmon (Washington Coast: Willapa Bay Fall Natural), chinook salmon (Washington Coast: Grays Harbor Fall), coho salmon (Washington Coast: Hoh), swordfish (Eastern Pacific ), summer flounder, yellowtail flounder (Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter), flounder (Georges Bank) and bigeye tuna (Atlantic).
  • 38 stocks were on the overfished list, from which blueline tilefish (South Atlantic) and canary rockfish (Pacific Coast) while others were removed as is the case of hogfifish (Southeast Florida), yellowtail flounder (Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter) and flounder (Georges Bank).
  • 39 stocks have been rebuilt since 2000, including canary rockfish (Pacific Coast) and petrale sole (Pacific Coast).

Read the full story at FIS