South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper FMP Amendment 27

NOAA Fisheries is publishing a final rule to implement Amendment 27 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region on December 27, 2013.

Amendment 27 includes the following actions:

Extends the South Atlantic Council's management responsibility for Nassau grouper to include the Gulf of Mexico.

Increases the number of allowable crew members from three to four on dual-permitted vessels (vessels that have both a federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit for Snapper-Grouper and a South Atlantic Unlimited or 225-Pound Snapper-Grouper Permit).

Allow captains and crew of for-hire vessels with federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Snapper-Grouper Permits to retain bag limit quantities of all snapper-grouper species.

Remove blue runner from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

An Amendment 27 FAQ is available at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2013/am27/index.html.

Amendment 27 and the final rule may be obtained from: The NOAA Fisheries Web site:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2013/am27/index.html.

source: NOAA Fisheries