The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAMFC) recently announced that the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in 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.
SAMFC found the closure to be neccessary because 2010-2012 average landings exceeded the annual catch limit. 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. The 2013 recreational annual catch limit is 523 fish.
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.
source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
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