Snowy Grouper, Golden Tilefish Close on Atlantic Side

From NOAA Fisheries:

Recreational Harvest of Snowy Grouper Closing  to Vessels Fishing in the South Atlantic Federal Waters  

on May 31, 2013

 Recreational harvest of snowy grouper in the South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) May 31, 2013. Recreational harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014. The 2013 recreational annual catch limit is 523 fish. The accountability measure for snowy grouper requires that the 2013 fishing season be shortened if the average 2010-2012 recreational landings exceed the annual catch limit. Reports indicate the average 2010-2012 landings exceeded the annual catch limit; therefore, the recreational harvest of snowy grouper should close by May 31, 2013, to protect the snowy grouper resource.

During the closure:

* Recreational harvest or possession of snowy grouper is prohibited.

* The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a valid charter/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.

Commercial harvest of snowy grouper for the 2013 fishing season is currently open. Commercial landings are updated on the Southeast Regional Office's Web site:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/acl

_monitoring/commercial_sa/index.html. Another Federal Register notice and Fishery Bulletin will be published if and when the commercial annual catch limit for snowy grouper is projected to be met.

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

Recreational Harvest of Golden Tilefish Closing to Vessels Fishing in the South Atlantic  Federal Waters on June 3, 2013

Recreational harvest of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) June 3, 2013.  Recreational harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014. The recreational annual catch limit is 3,019 fish. The accountability measure for golden tilefish requires that recreational harvest of golden tilefish is closed if recreational landings reach or are projected to reach the annual catch limit. In addition, the 2013 fishing season is shortened if the 2012 recreational landings exceed the annual catch limit. Reports indicate the 2012 landings exceeded the annual catch limit, and 2013 landings are approaching the annual catch limit. The annual catch limit is projected to be met on June 3, 2013. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.

 

During the closure:

• Recreational harvest or possession of golden tilefish 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.

Commercial harvest of golden tilefish for the 2013 fishing season is currently closed. Commercial landings are updated on the Southeast Regional Office's Web site. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014.