Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to Regulations for Snapper-Grouper and Golden Crab in the South Atlantic, and Dolphin and Wahoo in the Atlantic Region

September 28, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Comment Period Ends October 29, 2015

 NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would:

  • Revise commercial and recreational sector allocations, and annual catch limits for dolphin in the South Atlantic. The recreational sector allocation for dolphin would change from 92.46% to 90% and the annual catch limit would change from 14,187,845 to 13,810,361 pounds whole weight. The commercial sector allocation for dolphin would increase from 7.54% to 10% and the commercial annual catch limit would change from 1,157,001 to 1,534,485 pounds whole weight.
  • Revise the accountability measures for black grouper, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, greater amberjack, red porgy, gag, golden tilefish, red grouper, snowy grouper, gray triggerfish, hogfish, scamp, Atlantic spadefish, bar jack, the other snappers complex, the other jacks complex, the other shallow-water grouper complex, the other porgies complex; wreckfish (recreational), and golden crab (commercial).
  • Accountability measures are management controls to prevent annual catch limits from being exceeded and to correct overages of the catch limits if they do occur. Accountability measures include in-season closures, and post-season paybacks, such as reducing the length of the next fishing season or reducing the annual catch limit in the next fishing season. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more detailed information on accountability measures for the commercial and recreational sectors.

The proposed rule will publish on September 29, 2015, with a 30-day comment period starting on September 29, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.

Request for Comments

Comments on the proposed rule must be received no later than October 29, 2015, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.

Addresses

Electronic or hardcopies of the proposed rule may be obtained from:

 You may submit comments by the following methods:

Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0181, click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

  • Mail:

Mary Janine Vara

NOAA Fisheries

Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA Fisheries will accept anonymous comments (enter “N/A” in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

More Information

For more information on the proposed rule for the Generic Accountability Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment, please follow this link to the Frequently Asked Questions:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/2014/am_dolphin_allocation/index.html.

NOAA Fisheries Reminds Commercial Fishermen that the Recreational Bag Limit Applies for Some Species After a Commercial Closure if the Recreational Season is Open

July 17, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

Atlantic Dolphin, Atlantic Wahoo, and Snapper-Grouper Species (Except for Wreckfish)

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic dolphin, Atlantic wahoo, or snapper-grouper species (except for wreckfish):

  • The recreational bag limit for these species applies to commercial vessels.
  • If a commercial vessel is on a trip that lasts longer than one day, each person onboard the commercial vessel is limited to only one day’s bag limit.
  • Sale and purchase of these species is prohibited.
  • The commercial closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a federal commercial permit.
  • The recreational bag limit for dolphin is 10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel, whichever is less, except on board a headboat, where the bag limit is 10 per paying passenger.
  • The recreational bag limit for wahoo is 2 fish per person per day.
  • Recreational bag limits for snapper-grouper species can be found at 50 CFR § 622.187.These measures apply from:
  • Maine through the east coast of Florida for dolphin and wahoo.
  • North Carolina/Virginia border through the east coast of Florida for snapper-grouper species (except black sea bass and scup).
  • Cape Hatteras, North Carolina through the east coast of Florida for black sea bass and scup.

Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic king or Spanish mackerel:

  • There is no recreational bag or possession limit that applies to commercial vessels, and commercial fishermen may NOT fish under the recreational bag limit of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.
  • A person aboard a vessel that has both a valid charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish and a valid commercial vessel permit for king or Spanish mackerel, may continue to fish under a bag limit, provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.These measures apply from:
  • New York through the east coast of Florida.