Cobia Archives - Page 3 of 8

South Atlantic Council Delays Changes to Atlantic Cobia Management

Fishery managers to wait for Stock ID Workshop preliminary results available in June

March 12, 2018 — JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

After reviewing public comment and considering various management alternatives and timing, members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council decided to delay approval of an amendment to remove Atlantic cobia from the current federal management plan. The amendment is designed to reduce complicated regulations and improve flexibility in the management of Atlantic cobia from Georgia to New York. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the move would allow for the fishery to be managed solely by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

The decision came after Council members discussed the need to wait for preliminary results from a Cobia Stock ID Workshop scheduled for April. The current management boundary between Florida and Georgia was established following a 2013 stock assessment. Fishermen and others have expressed concerns about the boundary change since that time. The Council decided to wait until their June 11-15, 2018 meeting, when preliminary results from the Stock ID workshop and Advisory Panel recommendations would be available for consideration before moving forward. Council members also heard concerns from legal counsel that the document should further specify what will happen to regulations in federal waters before the amendment’s approval.

Prized for their delicious taste and relatively large size, the recreational harvest of Atlantic cobia has increased in recent years. The recreational fishery closed in federal waters in June 2016 after landings estimates exceeded the annual catch limit the previous year and closed again in January 2017, as state landings were expected to exceed the federal catch limits. The recreational fishery is currently open in federal waters, but subject to closure by NOAA Fisheries should catch estimates exceed the annual catch limit currently in place. Fish harvested in state waters count against the annual catch limit.

The majority of Atlantic cobia are harvested in state waters, within 3 miles of shore in North Carolina and Virginia. They can also be found offshore and occur more readily in federal waters off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina as they migrate northward to spawn. Cobia harvested along the east coast of Florida are considered part of the Gulf of Mexico stock and are managed separately.

At the request of the Council, the ASMFC began developing an interstate management plan for Atlantic cobia last year. That plan will become effective in state waters from Georgia to New York in April 2018 and aligns with current federal regulations for Atlantic cobia. Under the ASMFC Interstate Plan, state-specific allocations are established based on the current federal annual catch limit of 620,000 pounds, with North Carolina and Virginia receiving the majority of the allocation based on previous landings.

Individual states have submitted plans for Atlantic cobia (including regulations for a minimum size limit, vessel limit, and season) to the ASMFC based on those allocations. The state regulations are designed to keep harvest levels below the allocated state-specific pounds of Atlantic cobia. Under federal law, the states may also request that state regulations for Atlantic cobia be extended into federal waters.

Comments from fishermen and others received during public hearings held in January and as part of the March Council meeting primarily supported removing Atlantic cobia from the federal management plan and providing the states more latitude in setting regulations based on the ASMFC Interstate Plan.

Once fully removed from the federal management plan, Atlantic Group Cobia would beregulated in both state and federal waters under ASMFC. The Cobia Stock ID Workshop is scheduled for April 10-12, 2018 in Charleston, SC and a benchmark stock assessment will be conducted in 2019. For additional information, visit: http://sedarweb.org/sedar-58.

Other Business

The Council considered over 600 written comments and heard public testimony this week, before voting to send a letter to NOAA Fisheries expressing their concerns on an Exempted Fishery Permit request to conduct research and evaluate pelagic longline catch rates in a portion of an area off the east coast of Florida currently closed to longline fishing. The majority of the comments received, including those from recreational fishing organizations, were in opposition to the permit, citing concerns about discards of recreational and commercially important species, impacts to protected resources, increased landings of dolphin fish, and other concerns. The Council will submit its formal recommendations and a copy of all comments received on the Exempted Fishery Permit to NOAA Fisheries, the agency responsible for making the final decision on issuance of the permit.

The Council also continued work on Snapper Grouper Amendment 46 to improve recreational data collection. The amendment includes options for a private recreational snapper grouper permit designed to improve effort estimates that may eventually be used to improve landings estimates. The amendment also includes options for recreational reporting requirements. A separate framework amendment will also be developed to address best fishing practices. The Council provided guidance on actions and alternatives. Two amendments are being developed as part of the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the snapper grouper fishery, a long-term approach to management developed with stakeholder input. Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 26 addresses recreational measures including modifications to aggregate species composition, removal of size limits, changes to bag limits and gear requirements for certain deepwater species, and modifications to shallow water species. Regulatory Amendment 26 would also reduce the recreational minimum size limit for gray triggerfish off the east coast of Florida for consistency with state regulations. Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 27 addresses commercial measures, including alternatives for split seasons for blueline tilefish, snowy grouper, greater amberjack and red porgy. Changes to the trip limit for vermilion snapper, jacks, and modification to the seasonal prohibition on red grouper are also being considered. The Council approved both amendments for public hearings to be held later this spring.

Charter fishermen targeting snapper grouper species in federal waters off the South Atlantic are required to have a federal South Atlantic For-Hire Snapper Grouper permit. At the request of the Council’s Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and considering public input, the Council reviewed an options paper for public scoping to get input on establishing a moratorium on the issuance of these permits. The moratorium is being considered to help improve logbook reporting compliance, recreational data quality, business planning, professionalize the for-hire fleet, address localized overcapacity, and other concerns. The Council provided recommendations for the scoping document and will review it again during its June 2018 meeting.

The Council bid an emotional farewell to Dr. Michelle Duval, the Council representative for the NC Division of Marine Fisheries and former Council Chair. Dr. Duval also served as Chair as the Council’s Snapper Grouper Committee for several years and was commended for her leadership and guidance during her service on the Council. She joins her husband Scott as they move to Pennsylvania.

Final Committee Reports, a meeting Story Map, Meeting Report and other materials from this week’s Council meeting are available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for June 11-15, 2018 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

SAFMC: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting March 5-9, 2018 in Jekyll Island, GA

February 28, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Agenda Highlights:

Mackerel Cobia Committee

The committee will review public hearing comments and provide recommendations for any management jurisdictional changes for Atlantic cobia (GA to NY). The committee will also discuss possible changes to commercial trip limits for king mackerel. The Council will take public scoping comments during the meeting on options for changes to king mackerel trip limits.

Citizen Science Committee

Development of the Council’s Citizen Science Program continues as the committee receives recommendations from the 5 Action Teams: Communication/Outreach/Education; Finance & Infrastructure; Data Management; Projects/Topics Management; and Volunteers.

Snapper Grouper Committee

The committee will continue to discuss the Visioning Amendments (both recreational and commercial) and the Council could potentially approve them for public hearings. The committee will also continue work on Amendment 46 addressing recreational reporting and permitting. Options for a For-Hire Permit Moratorium will also be discussed. Dr. Kari MacLauchlin will give a presentation on the Socio-Economic profile of the South Atlantic snapper grouper commercial fishery.

Exempted Fishing Permit

The Council will review a request for an Exempted Fishing Permit to conduct research and evaluate pelagic longline catch rates in a portion of the East Florida Coast pelagic longline closed area and provide recommendations. Learn more

Additional Meeting Information

Watch the meeting live via webinar at it occurs! Webinar registration is required for each day of the meeting. Registration information – along with meeting materials including committee agendas, overviews, presentations, and documents – is available from the March 2018 Council Meeting page.

Public Q& A and Comment Sessions

For more information about the meeting visit the SAFMC at their site here.

SAFMC Meeting – March 5-9, 2018 in Jekyll Island, GA

February 20, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Agenda Highlights

Mackerel Cobia Committee

Citizen Science Committee

Snapper Grouper Committee

Exempted Fishing Permit

Additional Meeting Information

Can’t attend? Watch the meeting live via webinar at it occurs! Webinar registration is required for each day of the meeting. Registration information – along with meeting materials including committee agendas, overviews, presentations, and documents – is available from the March 2018 Council Meeting page.

Public Q& A and Comment Sessions

Tuesday, March 6 – 4:30 PM

Informal Question & Answer Session

Join NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator Dr. Roy Crabtree, Council Chair Charlie Phillips and others for an informal Q&A session to discuss topics relative to the meeting agenda.

Wednesday, March 7 – 4:30 PM

Formal public comment

The Council will accept comments on meeting agenda items. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Learn more about the SAFMC by visiting their site here.

SAFMC Update: Winter 2018 Newsletter

February 7, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Inside this issue:

Management of Atlantic Cobia (GA to NY) May Change Hands

The Council will consider public input as it reviews management alternatives for the stock during its March 5-9, 2018 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA…

Cold Weather Impacts Shrimp Fishery

We’ve all felt the frigid temps this winter. See how overwintering shrimp are being protected and if the cold weather will impact your shrimp dinner this summer…

New Regulations for Mutton Snapper

New regulations go into place effective February 10, 2018 to help protect spawning aggregations and reduce harvest of mutton snapper…

MyFishCount.com

See results from the 2017 recreational reporting pilot project and learn about future efforts to collect recreational data via mobile application….

Click here to view the complete update from the SAFMC

ASMFC 2018 Winter Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

January 31, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council:

Supplemental meeting materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2018 Winter Meeting have been posted at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-winter-meeting for the following Boards/Sections (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, supplemental meeting materials have combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2018WinterMeeting/CombinedSupplementalFiles_Winter2018.pdf.

American Lobster Management Board – Draft Addendum XXVI/III Public Comment; Southern New England memo: Goals and Objectives (revised)

Atlantic Herring Section – Technical Committee Review of Current Spawning Closure Procedure

American Eel Management Board – Draft Addendum V; Stock Assessment Committee Call Summary; 2017 FMP Review

Weakfish Management Board – 2017 FMP Review

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – Cobia FMP State Implementation Plans; 2017 FMP Reviews for Spot and Spanish Mackerel

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Submitted Public Comment

Risk and Uncertainty Workshop – Decision Tree

ISFMP Policy Board – 2017 Commissioner Survey Results; Submitted Public Comment on Virginia Appeal to Atlantic Menhaden Amendment 3

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Draft Addendum XXX, Public Hearing Summaries, Submitted Public Comment and Advisory Panel Report

As a reminder, Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning February 6th at 9:30 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 5 p.m.) on Thursday, February 8th. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board/section deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible.

Learn more about the ASMFC by visiting their site here.

South Atlantic Council Wants Public Input on Management Changes for Atlantic Cobia

January 16, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — In an effort to “allow for more equitable distribution of harvest and facilitate better coordination between state and federal management of Atlantic cobia” without reducing protection of the stock, members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on proposed Amendment 31.

The Amendment is the result of year-to-year overages in recreational harvests and a currently overly complex management system among state and federal management of the sleek cobia, also known as black kingfish.

In 2015 an overage of recreational landings resulted in a shortened 2016 recreational season for Atlantic cobia, and triggered an amendment to help reduce the likelihood of exceeding ACLs again. The South Atlantic Council also asked the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to consider complementary management for cobia. The Commission’s interstate management plan is expected to be implemented this April.

Recreational landings far outweigh commercial along the Eastern seaboard. Landings in North Carolina and the Mid- Atlantic states have driven the increase.

Recreational landings went from 498,000 lbs in 2012 to 1.34 million lbs. in 2016. For commercial landings, the increase was from 42,000 lbs. in 2012 to 88,000 lbs. in 2016.

Amendment 31 offers four alternatives. According to the analysis done by the South Atlantic Council, Alternative 1 or status quo would likely result in the annual catch limits being exceeded, with negative impacts to the stock.

Alternative 2 would remove Atlantic cobia from the FMP, which means no further federal management for the stock. However, federal regulations for annual catch limits and other management measures would continue. Alternative 2 would likely result in the ASFMC extending their jurisdiction into federal waters and managing cobia under the Interstate FMP which has more restrictive measures. “The biological and ecological benefits to the stock are expected to be beneficial,” reads the analysis.Alternative 3 would outline

Alternative 3 would outline complimentary management of Atlantic cobia with the ASFMC. This gives the South Atlantic Council the flexibility to continue to manage Atlantic group cobia but the majority of the management responsibility would be by the states through the ASFMC Interstate FMP. Alternative 3 would have positive biological impacts to the species.

Alternative 4 would establish a framework procedure in the CMP FMP for an enhanced cooperative management system with the ASMFC that allows changes to Atlantic cobia management through NMFS rulemaking. This alternative sets up a procedure in which ASMFC can propose new regulations directly to NMFS, without formal action from the Council. Rules would still need to meet Magnuson-Stevens Act standards and FMP objectives, thereby having a positive biological impacts to the stock.

Public hearings will be conducted via webinar with listening stations as noted below.

January 22, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

1 Port Royal Sound Maritime Center: 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909

2 North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office: 5285 Highway

70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557

3 Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division: One Conservation

Way, Brunswick, GA 31523

January 23, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

Hatteras Community Center; 57689 NC Highway12, Hatteras, NC 27943

January 24, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

1 Haddrell’s Point Tackle: 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

2 Virginia Marine Resources Commission (The Maritime Building); 2600 Washington Ave., 4th Floor, Newport News, VA 23607 *Note: The VA location is a state-organized listening station and was arranged to provide the public in Virginia the opportunity to attend and provide comments in-person.

Registration for each webinar is required. Registration information, along with public hearing documents, video presentations, and other materials is now available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. An online public comment form for written comments is also available. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. February 9, 2018 to be included in the briefing book materials for the Council’s March 5-9, 2018 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA.

This story originally appeared on Seafoodnews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

MAFMC: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for Atlantic Cobia Management

January 11, 2018 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia as they consider revising the current management system. Public hearings will be held via webinar with public listening stations beginning January 22, 2018. Information on the proposed changes is now available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. Written comments are also being solicited using the online comment form available from the website page.

Atlantic cobia are managed in federal waters along the Atlantic coast from Georgia through New York in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; two voting seats are provided to the Mid-Atlantic Council on the South Atlantic Council’s Mackerel Cobia Committee. This arrangement provides an opportunity to include the views of constituents from Virginia northwards. Cobia in federal waters off the east coast of Florida are considered part of the Gulf of Mexico migratory stock. The management boundary for the two stocks was modified following a 2013 stock assessment and annual catch limits for each stock were set. NOAA Fisheries determined the recreational catch limit for Atlantic cobia was exceeded in 2015, leading to a shortened season in 2016. Cobia harvested in both state and federal waters count toward the annual catch limit. Subsequent overages occurred during 2016 and the recreational fishery was closed in federal waters on January 24, 2017.

In order to provide for effective management and fair and equitable access to the Atlantic cobia fishery without reducing protection to the stock, the Council is considering a range of alternatives for managing Atlantic cobia, from complementary management with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to removal of Atlantic cobia from the federal management unit. The ASMFC recently approved an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Cobia that will be implemented in April 2018. Should the Council choose to remove Atlantic cobia from the current federal management unit, the ASMFC Interstate Plan would be applied to both state and federal waters, allowing for additional management flexibility.

Public Hearings for Atlantic Cobia Management

(Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan)

Public hearings will be conducted via webinar with listening stations as noted below. Attendance at the listening stations is encouraged but not required. During the public hearings, Council staff will present an overview of the amendment and will be available to answer questions via webinar. Area Council members or state agency representatives will be present at each of the listening stations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record via webinar or at the listening stations to record their comments for consideration by the Council.

January 22, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Port Royal Sound Maritime Center: 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office: 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division: One Conservation Way,Brunswick, GA 31523

January 23, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

Hatteras Community Center; 57689 NC Highway12,Hatteras, NC 27943

January 24, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Haddrell’s Point Tackle: 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Virginia Marine Resources Commission (The Maritime Building); 2500 Washington Ave., 4th Floor, Newport News, VA23607 *Note: The VA location is a state-organized listening station and was arranged to provide the public in Virginia the opportunity to attend and provide comments in-person.

Learn more about the MAFMC by visiting their site here.

South Atlantic Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for Atlantic Cobia Management

Public hearings scheduled via webinar with listening stations; written comment period open

January 10, 2018 — North Charleston, S.C. — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Public Hearings for Atlantic Cobia Management

(Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan)

Public hearings will be conducted via webinar with listening stations as noted below. Attendance at the listening stations is encouraged but not required. During the public hearings, Council staff will present an overview of the amendment and will be available to answer questions via webinar. Area Council members or state agency representatives will be present at each of the listening stations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record via webinar or at the listening stations to record their comments for consideration by the Council.

January 22, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Port Royal Sound Maritime Center:310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC29909
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office: 5285

Highway 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division: One

Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31523

January 23, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

Hatteras Community Center; 57689 NC Highway12, Hatteras, NC 27943

January 24, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Haddrell’s Point Tackle: 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC29464
Virginia Marine Resources Commission (The Maritime Building); 2500

Washington Ave., 4^th Floor, Newport News, VA 23607 *Note: The VA location is a state-organized listening station and was arranged to provide the public in Virginia the opportunity to attend and provide comments in-person.

The Council is also asking for public input on the timing of measures proposed in Amendment 31. A Stock Identification Workshop for Cobia is scheduled to begin in April 2018 as part of a benchmark stock assessment Atlantic cobia. For additional information, contact Christina Wiegand, Fishery Social Scientist at Christina.Wiegand@safmc.net or contact the Council office at 843/571-4366.

SAFMC: Public Hearings Scheduled for Atlantic Cobia Management

January 5, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Fishermen and others interested in the management of Atlantic cobia are encouraged to provide recommendations to members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council as they consider revising the current management system for the stock. Public hearings will be held via webinar with public listening stations. Written comments will also be accepted.

Atlantic cobia are managed in federal waters along the Atlantic coast from Georgia through New York in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; two voting seats are provided to the Mid-Atlantic Council on the South Atlantic Council’s Mackerel Cobia Committee. This arrangement provides an opportunity to include the views of constituents from Virginia northwards. Cobia in federal waters off the east coast of Florida are considered part of the Gulf of Mexico migratory stock. The management boundary for the two stocks was modified following a 2013 stock assessment and annual catch limits for each stock were set. NOAA Fisheries determined the recreational catch limit for Atlantic cobia was exceeded in 2015, leading to a shortened season in 2016. Cobia harvested in both state and federal waters count toward the annual catch limit. Subsequent overages occurred the following year and the recreational fishery was closed in federal waters on January 24, 2017.

Public Hearings for Atlantic Cobia Management

(Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan)

Public hearings will be conducted via webinar with listening stations as noted below. Attendance at the listening stations is encouraged but not required. The Council wants to ensure constituents from Virginia northwards are able to participate/comment and are encouraging them to participate in the hearing scheduled for January 23rd with a listening station available in Hatteras, NC (in-person or via webinar) or January 24th (via webinar).

During the public hearings, Council staff will present an overview of the amendment and will be available to answer questions via webinar. Area Council members will be present at each of the listening stations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record via webinar or at the listening stations to record their comments for consideration by the Council.

January 22, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Port Royal Sound Maritime Center: 310 Okatie Hwy,Okatie, SC29909
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office: 5285 Highway

70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division: One Conservation

Way, Brunswick, GA 31523

January 23, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

Hatteras Community Center; 57689 NC-12, Hatteras, NC 27943

January 24, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

Haddrell’s Point Tackle: 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Registration for each webinar is required. Registration information along with public hearing documents, video presentations and other materials will be posted on the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/ as they become available. An online public comment form for written comments will also be available and additional details for submitting written comments posted two weeks prior to the hearings.

Learn more about the SAFMC by visiting their site here.

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.