Saving Seafood

Commercial Closure for the Golden Tilefish Longline Component in South Atlantic Federal Waters on May 9, 2017

May 4, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:
The commercial longline component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m. on May 9, 2017. The closure applies to longline endorsement holders for golden tilefish.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

  • The 2017 commercial catch limit for the golden tilefish longline component is 405,971 pounds gutted weight. Commercial landings information indicates that the commercial catch limit for the longline component has been met and harvest therefore should be closed.

DURING AND AFTER THE CLOSURE:

  • The commercial longline component closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have longline endorsement for golden tilefish.
  • During the closure, vessels with a golden tilefish longline endorsement are not eligible to commercially harvest golden tilefish using hook-and line gear and are limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.
  • Vessels that do not have longline endorsements, but have South Atlantic snapper-grouper unlimited permits, may harvest golden tilefish commercially until the hook-and-line quota is reached.
    The prohibition on sale or purchase during the closure does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. on May 9, 2017, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
    Harvest by the commercial longline component will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2018.

    This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register

SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL: Reminder – Public Hearing/Scoping Meetings Begin This Week in Florida

January 23, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Join local representatives from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Council staff as public hearing and scoping meetings continue this week along Florida’s east coast.

The Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings to collect public input on proposed management measures for yellowtail snapper, red snapper options and the Vision Blueprint for the snapper grouper fishery.

Monday, January 23 

Lexington Hotel & Conference Center

1515 Prudential Drive

Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday, January 24

Hilton Cocoa Beach

1550 N. Atlantic Ave.

Cocoa Beach, FL

Wednesday, January 25

Flagler Place

201 S.W. Flagler Ave.

Stuart, FL

Thursday, January 26

Hilton Key Largo

97000 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo, FL

Read the full release at the SAFMC

Commercial Harvest of Gray Triggerfish in South Atlantic Waters Will Close on December 16, 2016

December 14th, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic waters will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) December 16, 2016. Landings data and projections indicate that commercial harvest of gray triggerfish is projected to reach the 2016 July through December quota.  As a result, commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic waters will be closed for the remainder of the fishing year.  The 2017 January through June fishing season reopens at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017.

The operator of a vessel with a valid federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper who is landing gray triggerfish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time,

December 16, 2016. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) December 16, 2016, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. 

 During the commercial closure:

  • Harvest or possession of gray triggerfish in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.
  • The bag and possession limits for gray triggerfish and the prohibition on sale/purchase apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or federal waters.

This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource by preventing the commercial quota from being exceeded. 

Recreational Harvest of Golden Tilefish in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Will Close on August 27, 2016

August 23, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

Recreational harvest of golden tilefish in South Atlantic federal waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 27, 2016. Recreational harvest in federal waters will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017. The recreational annual catch limit for golden tilefish is 3,019 fish. Reports indicate that recreational landings have exceeded the 2016 annual catch limit for the recreational sector.

During the closure:

  • Recreational harvest or possession of golden tilefish in or from the federal waters of the South Atlantic is prohibited.
  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels which have a valid charter/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
    This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish fishery by limiting the amount that landings exceed the recreational annual catch limit.