January 22, 2021 — No one should have any difficulty buying fresh Gulf of Mexico red snapper for dinner anytime in the foreseeable future.
“It’s what they call a ‘harvest fishery’ – you go out there, they bite. They’re not hard to find,” Steve Rash, who owns Water Street Seafood in Apalachicola, Florida, said.
December 30, 2020 — No one should have any difficulty buying fresh Gulf of Mexico red snapper for dinner anytime in the foreseeable future.
“It’s what they call a ‘harvest fishery’ — you go out there, they bite. They’re not hard to find,” said Steve Rash, who owns Water Street Seafood in Apalachicola, Fla.
That assessment was confirmed by the recent Great Red Snapper Count — a two-year scientific study conducted by Texas A&M’s Harte Research Institute. Researchers reported to Congress in October that there are up to three times as many red snapper living in the gulf as scientists previously estimated.
Rash says the dozen or so boats operating out of his fish house catch red snapper on nearly every trip, whether it is the target species or as bycatch in the grouper, amberjack, or other reef fisheries. He says dock prices are in the $5 to $5.50-per-pound range, with fishermen who are leasing quota netting about $2 per pound.
As of just before Thanksgiving, gulf fishermen had landed about 5.6 million pounds, or 82 percent of the annual quota of 7 million pounds. Rash said sales to restaurants were slow from last winter to early spring as a result of covid-19-related shutdowns.
December 23, 2020 — Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones’s bipartisan legislation to improve the health of reef fish populations, such as red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, passed the Senate. The legislation was co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, and a companion bill was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Garrett Graves, R-Louisiana, and Jared Huffman, D-California.
“I’ve been fishing all my life, so I know how important it is to protect Gulf species like red snapper,” Jones said. “The use of descending devices and venting tools is one way we can help maintain healthy populations of reef fish, which is crucial for the economy of Alabama and for ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy red snapper season.”
“In 2016, we won the battle to wrestle control of flawed red snapper management from the federal government,” Graves said. “We now have better fish management, better access to fishing and improved economic activity. The Modern Fish Act, our bill to require the inclusion of recreational fisheries and better data in fish management practices, became law in 2018. Now, with the DESCEND Act, we are going to see more fish, more fishing opportunities in the Gulf, more tourism and better sustainability of our fisheries. This is a win-win for conservation and good eating. I appreciate all of the support and hard work of the Coastal Conservation Association, American Sportfish Association, Center for Sportfishing Policy, TRCP and all the anglers out there that are the true conservationist that want to ensuring fishing opportunities for generations to come. We’ve created a foundation for successful state management of the species through our previous legislation and the unanimous approval in the Senate is reflective of the progress we have made. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law and our anglers getting to spend more time on the water.”
December 7, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
WHAT/WHEN:
The commercial harvest of snowy grouper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on December 12, 2020. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of snowy grouper is prohibited, and harvest or possession of snowy grouper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational sector is open.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
The 2020 July through December commercial catch limit is 46,181 pounds gutted weight. The unused portion of the catch limit from the January through June season was added to the catch limit for the July through December season, and the increased catch limit is used to project the closure. Commercial landings are projected to reach the increased July through December commercial catch limit. According to the accountability measure, commercial harvest must close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.
AFTER THE CLOSURE:
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_1193.
November 16, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
KEY MESSAGE:
NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the proposed rule for Regulatory Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. Comments on the proposed rule are due by December 16, 2020.
The proposed rule would create 34 special management zones around artificial reefs off North Carolina and South Carolina as requested by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. There would be additional gear and harvest restrictions within the proposed special management zones.
The purpose of the framework amendment is to restrict use of fishing gear that could result in high exploitation rates to reduce adverse effects to federally managed snapper-grouper species at these sites.
Maps and coordinates of the proposed special management zones found here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/regulatory-amendment-34-special-management-zones-smz.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
In the proposed SMZs off South Carolina, harvest of snapper-grouper species with all gear types would be limited to the applicable recreational bag limit.
HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RULE:
You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries. Comments on the proposed rule are due by December 16, 2020.
FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NUMBER: 85 FR 73013, November 16, 2020
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
Mail: Submit written comments to Rick DeVictor, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Where can I find more information on Regulatory Amendment 34?
October 20, 2020 — Commercial and recreational fishermen will be able to harvest red snapper this season, even if the season lasts less than four days.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service announced Oct. 13 that Regulatory Amendment 33 for the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan will go into effect Friday, Nov. 13. The final rule allows the red-snapper fishing season to be less than four days in the federal south Atlantic region, which includes the waters between 3-200 miles offshore of North Carolina.
It removes the minimum season length requirement. Red snapper harvest, recreational and commercial, could be open for either commercial or recreational harvest for three days or less. The intent of the final rule is to improve access to the red snapper resource.
October 13, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
KEY MESSAGE:
NOAA Fisheries announces the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 33 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 33). This final rule allows the South Atlantic red snapper fishing season to be less than four days.
WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:
Regulations will be effective November 13, 2020.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES FOR RED SNAPPER:
The final rule removes the minimum season length requirement, and red snapper harvest could be open for either commercial or recreational harvest for three days or less. The removal of this requirement improves access to the red snapper resource.
October 8, 2020 — Sport-fishing groups and federal officials say mandating that offshore anglers carry a simple $12 tool could help sustain red snapper and other fish stocks in the Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. House last week passed the Descend Act, which requires recreational, commercial and charter boats to carry a venting tool or a descending device while fishing for reef fish in the Gulf’s federal waters.
Here’s the problem: Red snapper and other reef fish are often returned to the water for a variety of reasons. For instance, they might be caught out of season, undersize or over the catch limit.
The rapid change in pressure from being brought to the surface from deeper waters causes many of these fish to experience barotrauma. The condition causes gas pressure to build up in the fish’s body, making it difficult or impossible to swim back down to its normal depth. As a result, many fish die at the surface or fall victim to predators.
October 6, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Offshore fishermen and others interested in federal fisheries management for such species as Dolphin, Wahoo, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, snappers and grouper may want to mark your calendar for upcoming meetings. Join meetings via webinar as fishery managers, scientists, advisory panel members and others discuss fisheries issues.
Meeting materials, including agendas, overviews and briefing book materials for the meetings will be posted on the Council’s website as they become available. Links to webinar registration for each meeting will be available and an online public comment form provided as appropriate. Register early for a meeting and receive an email reminder as the meeting date approaches.
Upcoming Meetings via Webinar:
Outreach and Communications Advisory Panel
October 8
1 PM – 5 PM
SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee
October 13-15
9 AM – 5 PM daily
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
October 21-22
9 AM – 4 PM and 9 AM – 12 PM
Wreckfish ITQ Shareholders and Wholesale Dealers Meeting
October 26
1:30 PM – 4 PM
Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel
October 28
8:30 AM – 5 PM
Joint South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Scientific and Statistical Committees
October 30
9 AM – 1 PM
Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel
November 2
1 PM – 5 PM
Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
November 4-6
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM; 9 AM – 4 PM; and 9 AM-12 PM
SAFMC Meeting – Recreational Fisheries Issues
November 9
10 AM – 4 PM
Coral Advisory Panel and Deep Water Shrimp Advisory Panel
November 10
1 PM – 3 PM
SAFMC Executive Committee Meeting
November 12
10 AM – 12 PM
SAFMC December Meeting
December 7-10
October 5, 2020 — Scientists have presented findings to Congress that report there are more red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico than previously known, information that could affect future management of the fishery.
According to a summary by Chris Oliver, assistant fisheries administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the new information comes from the Great Red Snapper Count, a survey conducted by the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University. On Thursday, a team from the Harte Institute briefed members of Congress on their findings.
“First, the welcome news,” wrote Oliver. “(B)ased on this study, there are more red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico that previously thought, possibly up to three times as many. We can all agree that’s a good thing.”
The Great Red Snapper Count began in 2016 when $10 million in federal funding was made available for a study. The goal for the two-year project was to create an independent estimate of the snapper population in the Gulf. The Harte Institute summed up the problem: