Article by Larry Jock
New Regulations set for Snapper-Grouper Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries Service published a final rule implementing Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2009, (74 FR 30964) and becomes effective on July 29, 2009.
According to the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, the regulations adopted by the South Atlantic Region are also adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Region if the species of fish is available in the region. The Mid-Atlantic region covers states from North Carolina (which is also covered by the South Atlantic council) north to New York.
The final rule:
1. Establishes a January-April prohibition on recreational and commercial harvest of shallow water grouper species including gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth grouper, and tiger grouper.
2. Establishes a November to March prohibition on recreational harvest of vermilion snapper.
3. Modifies the vermilion snapper commercial quota and establishes a gag commercial quota.
4. Establishes reductions in recreational bag limits for vermilion snapper, gag, black grouper, and the grouper aggregate.
5. Implements a requirement for the commercial and recreational sectors to use dehooking tools when necessary.
For a person on board a vessel for which a federal commercial or for-hire (charter vessel/headboat) permit for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued, the provisions of the closures for gag and vermilion snapper will apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or federal waters. Captain and crew on for-hire vessels would be prohibited from retaining vermilion snapper or any species in the grouper aggregate.
Recreational Regulations
Grouper aggregate bag limit is 3 fish per person. This includes misty grouper, red grouper, scamp, tiger grouper, yellowedge grouper, yellowfin grouper, blueline tilefish, sand tilefish, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Snowy grouper and golden tilefish are also in the grouper aggregate with a maximum of 1 fish per person, for each species.
Gag or black grouper will be limited to 1 per person, combined.
The vermilion snapper bag limit will be 5 fish.
Vermilion snapper season will be closed from November to March.
Shallow water grouper season will be closed from January to April. This includes gag grouper, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth grouper and tiger grouper.
