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Published: July 1, 2009
Updated: July 1, 2009
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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.
The final rule:
* 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.
* Establishes a November-March prohibition on recreational harvest of vermilion snapper.
* Modifies the vermilion snapper commercial quota and establishes a gag commercial quota.
* Establishes reductions in recreational bag limits for vermilion snapper, gag, black grouper, and the grouper aggregate.
* 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.
source: NOAA press release
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Published: July 1, 2009
Updated: July 1, 2009
Print
EmailNOAA 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.
The final rule:
* 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.
* Establishes a November-March prohibition on recreational harvest of vermilion snapper.
* Modifies the vermilion snapper commercial quota and establishes a gag commercial quota.
* Establishes reductions in recreational bag limits for vermilion snapper, gag, black grouper, and the grouper aggregate.
* 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.
source: NOAA press release
Submit Article