Red Snapper

On the red snapper front, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) continues toward harsher red snapper regulations, as the most-recent stock assessment found red snapper to be overfished at eight times the sustainable level. The SAFMC says the bulk of red snapper catches are from the recreational fishery, where an estimated 40 percent of the released fish die. Meanwhile, the estimated release mortality for the commercial fishery is at an astronomical 90 percent, due to the deeper waters fished and the lack of handling practices.

Stock assessors concluded that closure of the red snapper fishery will not be sufficient to end overfishing of red snapper—the total mortality must be reduced by 87 percent, according to the latest 2008 Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR). Even with a closure, managers claim red snapper will still experience excessive bycatch mortality as fishermen pursue other species of snapper and grouper.

Council members are currently mulling over a number of alternatives that would close specific offshore fishing grounds, ranging from South Carolina to Cape Canaveral. (All bottom fishing would be closed in these specified areas.)

Also, the South Atlantic Council decided in June to divide the amendment into two parts; Amendment 17A will address management measures for red snapper and Amendment 17B will address measures to end overfishing for the remaining species: speckled hind, Warsaw grouper golden tilefish, snowy grouper, black grouper, black sea bass, gag grouper, red grouper, and vermilion snapper. Public hearings for both Amendment 17A and Amendment 17B will be scheduled later this year.

As of right now, the red snapper fishery remains open with a bag limit of 2 fish per person/day included in a 10 snapper aggregate bag limit; red snapper must be 20 inches total length. NMFS will hold a 30-day comment period on a potential, upcoming interim rule; the comment period will likely begin in early July.

In Gulf state waters, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials adjusted the recreational harvest season for red snapper to match federal regulations. Both seasons now run from June 1 to August 14; red snapper anglers previously could keep fish until Sept. 30. The Commission took this action after National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimated that recreational fishermen in the Gulf exceeded last year’s annual red snapper catch limit by about 1.2 million pounds.

“Shortening the fishing season will reduce the harvest of Gulf red snapper in the short term and help rebuild the fishery’s population so that anglers can enjoy better red snapper fishing in the future,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.

Red Grouper

Following the pattern of changes to red snapper regs, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) decided to make its grouper regulations in Gulf state waters compatible with federal regulations.

FWC’s latest rules establish a Feb. 1 through March 31 closed spawning season for all shallow-water groupers—including gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind—in all Gulf state waters except Monroe County. Second, new regulations decrease the daily, personal aggregate bag limit for grouper from five fish to four in Gulf state waters (except in Monroe County). Anglers can keep two gags and two reds as part of the aggregate grouper bag limit. FWC’s new Gulf grouper rules take effect in August.

Gulf Council meetings ran from June 15 -18 in Tampa, and discussed topics ranging from the sea turtle longline closure to the latest grouper updates. Items on the Reef Fish Management Committee’s agenda included final action on Reef Fish Amendment 31, a gag and red grouper update assessment, and research on the status of goliath grouper.