2015-2016 Black Sea Bass Season (South Atlantic)

The 2015-2016 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the South Atlantic Region will start on April 1, 2015, and end on March 31, 2016, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Landings in the past three fishing years have not come close to the current annual catch limit of 1,033,980 pounds whole weight; therefore, black sea bass will be open for the entire April 1, 2015-March 31, 2016, recreational fishing season.

This announcement is in compliance with the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which published on November 7, 2014 (79 FR 66316). Regulations were effective on December 8, 2014.

For the black sea bass recreational sector, the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 revised:

The recreational fishing year for black sea bass from June 1 through May 31, to April 1 through March 31.

The black sea bass recreational accountability measure to have NOAA Fisheries announce the length of the recreational season for black sea bass annually in the Federal Register prior to the April 1 recreational fishing year start date based on when NOAA Fisheries projects the recreational sector's annual catch limit will be met.

For more information on the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14, visit www.safmc.net.

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

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

South Atlantic Headboat Reporting Requirements

NOAA Fisheries is publishing a final rule for the For-Hire Reporting Amendment to modify headboat reporting requirements on December 27, 2013.

The For-Hire Reporting Amendment includes:

 - Amendment 31 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

 - Amendment 6 for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic.

 - Amendment 22 for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

The regulations in the final rule are effective on January 27, 2014.

The rule requires headboat vessels to submit fishing records to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) on a weekly basis, or at intervals shorter than a week if notified by the SEFSC Research Director. The current requirement is to submit fishing records on a monthly basis.

The rule changes the current method of submitting by paper and mail to submitting them electronically (i.e., internet).

Headboat owners and operators who are delinquent in submitting reports would not be allowed to fish until all required reports have been submitted.

For more information, visit:

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

or

http://www.safmc.net/

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

2013 South Atlantic Recreational Red Snapper Season

In July, NOAA Fisheries released details of the 2013 recreational red snapper fishing season in South Atlantic federal waters.

The recreational fishing season will open for one weekend made up of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 23, 2013, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 26, 2013. During the open recreational season, the bag limit is one fish per person per day and there is no minimum size limit for red snapper.

NOAA Fisheries may change the commercial and recreational season dates if severe weather conditions exist. If severe weather conditions exist, NOAA Fisheries will announce via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery Bulletin any change in the red snapper fishing seasons.

After the conclusion of the recreational fishing season, red snapper may not be harvested or possessed under the bag limit in federal waters of the South Atlantic. Harvest and possession prohibitions also apply to state waters for vessels holding federal snapper-grouper permits.

The recreational annual catch limit for 2013 is 9,585 fish. The sector annual catch limits are based upon allocations previously decided by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

More information concerning the 2013 red snapper fishing seasons can be found online at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm

source: SAFMC

2013 South Atlantic Red Snapper Season

According to NOAA Fisheries, the final rule to determine red snapper fishing seasons and harvest amounts for 2013 and subsequent years (Amendment 28) is currently under review.

Due to the review process, commercial and recreational fishing seasons for red snapper will not open in July 2013.

When complete, Amendment 28 will establish:

(1) a process to determine if a fishing season will occur each year, which would include specification of the allowable harvest and season length for the commercial and recreational sectors

(2) an equation to determine the annual catch limit amount for each sector

(3) management measures if fishing is allowed.

According to NOAA, the intent of Amendment 28 is to provide fishermen the opportunity to harvest the red snapper annual catch limit and enhance the social and economic benefits to the fishery.

More information can be found online at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm

source: SAFMC

South Atlantic Black Sea Bass Catch Limits

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has proposed to more than double the current black sea bass annual catch limit (ACL) from 847,000 pounds (whole weight) to 1,814,000 pounds.

NOAA Fisheries is in the process of reviewing the request and a proposed rule for public comment is expected later this summer. The black sea bass fishery opens for both commercial and recreational fishermen on June 1, 2013 in federal waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina southward along the east coast of Florida.

Earlier this month, the Council met during a special session and approved the increase to the overall annual catch limit.  The proposed increase is based on the most recent stock assessment update, completed in early 2013 through the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review program.

The updated black sea bass stock assessment concluded that the stock is no longer overfished or undergoing overfishing, and is rebuilt.

The increase in the catch limit is proposed through Regulatory Amendment 19 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan and must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce for implementation later this year.

The Council is proposing the increase go into effect as soon as possible in order to extend the 2013 fishing season.  The current bag limit is 5 fish per person per day with a 13" total length minimum size limit for the recreational fishery.  There are no changes proposed to the size and bag limits.

More Information:

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at www.safmc.net

NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/bsb/index.html

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

South Atlantic Snow Grouper Closure (Recreational)

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

2013 North Carolina Black Sea Bass Regulations

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 19 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras, according to North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

During the open season, the minimum size limit will be 12.5 inches, and the bag limit will be 20 fish per person, per day.
The season will close Oct. 14, and will reopen again from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

The recreational black sea bass fishery south of Cape Hatteras is managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and will remain closed until June 1.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

SAFMC Federal Fishing Regulations Mobile App

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council recent released a free federal fishing regulations app for the South Atlantic.

The SA Fishing Regulations app is a searchable guide to federal fishing regulations and saltwater fish identification in the South Atlantic region of the U.S. to include North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the East coast of Florida. 

Features include:

    * Fish identification information

    * Federal recreational regulations

    * Federal commercial regulations

    * Measuring guidelines

    * Managed areas

    * Links to important fishery management contacts and state fishery regulations.

No internet connection is required to use the app once downloaded. The "SA Fishing Regulations" App is available for iPhone and Android. For additional information, visit www.safmc.net

source: SAFMC

March SAFMC Meeting Update

A number of federal fishery management measures were approved for submission to the Secretary of Commerce during a recent South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) meeting.

The following measures were submitted for final approval and implementation by NOAA Fisheries:

 * Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18 - Adjustments for Vermillion Snapper and Red Porgy.

 * Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 27 - Captain and crew bag limit retention, crew size on dual-permitted vessels, framework actions, removal of blue runner from the fishery management unit and measures for Nassau grouper.

 * Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Headboat/Charterboat Reporting Amendment - Addresses Reporting Requirements for Headboats.

 * Joint Generic Dealer Amendment - Requirements for electronic reporting and frequency of reporting for seafood dealers.

The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for June 10-14, 2013 in Stuart, Florida. Details for the meeting and meeting materials will be posted at www.safmc.net

source: SAFMC

SAFMC Marine Protected Area Workgroup Meeting

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will host a Marine Protected Area Expert Workgroup meeting February 4-6 in North Charleston, SC.

During the three day event, experts from across the country will gather to address the use of MPAs to reduce bycatch mortality associated with speckled hind and Warsaw grouper.

According to SAFMC, both species are highly susceptible to overfishing, and because they are caught in deeper waters, few survive when captured and released. The Council is considering using MPAs, including modification of current deepwater MPAs, to help reduce bycatch mortality.

This is the second meeting of the MPA Expert Workgroup. An earlier meeting was held in April 2012 and recommendations provided to the Council. Meeting details and briefing book materials are available from the Council's website.

Date: February 4 - 6, 2013
Meeting location: Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel
4381 Tanger Outlet Boulevard
North Charleston, SC 29418
phone 800/503-5762 or 843/744-4422

For more information, visit www.safmc.net

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

South Atlantic Recreational Black Sea Bass Season Closed

After determining that the 2012-2013 South Atlantic recreational annual catch limit of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass had been reached, NOAA Fisheries Service closed the fishery.

Recreational fishing for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina to Key West, Florida, will remain closed from September 4, 2012, through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2013.

For vessels with a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters. The operator of a vessel that has a federal for-hire permit for snapper grouper must land any black sea bass harvested from either state or federal waters prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2012.

According to NOAA Fisheries Service, black sea bass are experiencing overfishing.

source: SAFMC

South Atlantic Red Snapper September 2012 Open Season

In September, recreational anglers will be get 6 fishing days for red snapper in South Atlantic federal waters. Based on a recommendation by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council), The recreational fishing season will open for two consecutive weekends made up of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 14, 2012, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 17, 2012; the season then reopens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 21, 2012, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 24, 2012.

During the open recreational season, the bag limit is one fish per person per day and there is no minimum size limit for red snapper. The red snapper recreational annual catch limit for 2012 is 9,399 fish.

NOAA Fisheries may change the commercial and recreational season dates if severe weather conditions exist. If severe weather conditions exist, NOAA Fisheries will announce via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery Bulletin any change in the red snapper fishing seasons.

After the conclusion of the recreational September 14-17, 2012, and September 21-24, 2012 fishing seasons, red snapper may not be harvested or possessed in federal waters of the South Atlantic.

Harvest and possession prohibitions also apply to state waters for vessels holding federal snapper-grouper permits.

More information, including Frequently Asked Questions for the 2012 red snapper fishing seasons can be found online at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm

source: SAFMC

Red Snapper Moratorium In Effect - Area Closures Cancelled

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council have concluded that a 4,800-square mile area closure off the coast of southern Georgia and north/central Florida where the harvest of snapper grouper species would be prohibited is unnecessary.

The area closure, included in Amendment 17A to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, was initially proposed by the Council to further reduce the fishing mortality of red snapper by restricting fishing for 73 species of snappers, groupers, grunts, triggerfish, and other species in the snapper grouper management complex that commonly co-occur with red snapper.

Management measures in Amendment 17A are designed to end overfishing of red snapper as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  Measures in the amendment approved by the Secretary of Commerce on December 3, 2010, continue a moratorium on the harvest of red snapper for both commercial and recreational fishermen in federal waters (ranging from 3 to 200 miles) throughout the South Atlantic region.

Regulations in Amendment 17A implementing the area closure were delayed by NOAA Fisheries Service, giving the Council time to review information from a new red snapper stock assessment completed in October 2010.  In anticipation of the new stock assessment, the Council had requested staff begin to develop Regulatory Amendment 10 to look at options for modifying the area closure if necessary.  Regulatory Amendment 10 includes various alternatives, which the Council considered, including an alternative to eliminate the area closure.

After reviewing the alternatives in Regulatory Amendment 10 and the latest scientific information, and considering public comment received at the meeting, the Council voted to approve the alternative in the regulatory amendment that will eliminate the area closure. The unanimous decision was made after considering recent data relative to the updated stock assessment for red snapper and other factors influencing the harvest of red snapper.

"The Council considered a number of factors before deciding to eliminate the area closure off southern Georgia and the north/central coast of Florida," said Council Chairman David Cupka. "We considered the reductions required by the new stock assessment, the impacts of the current prohibition on red snapper, the reduction in fishing trips as documented by the most recent recreational data, comments received from hundreds of fishermen regarding the larger numbers of red snapper available and the effects of the downturn in the economy that have negatively impacted fishing activities."

According to the recent stock assessment, a 70% reduction in fishing mortality (including dead discards) is required to end overfishing for red snapper. Initial analyses incorporating effort reductions from recent regulations suggested the moratorium on fishing for red snapper was not adequate to end overfishing.   However, reductions in effort are possibly greater than expected from regulatory impacts alone and the decline in recreational red snapper mortality under the moratorium during 2010 may be greater than initially estimated.

For example, the most recent preliminary data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) for the private and charter sectors, including January through August 2010, show a 33% decline in fishing trips in the South Atlantic region compared to 2007-2009 and about an 80% decline in red snapper mortality.  This reduction in fishing effort is consistent with fishermen’s reports and possibly reflects the current economic downturn, while the decline in mortality may reflect fishermen's efforts to avoid red snapper.  Incorporating the mortality reductions observed in the 2010 preliminary MRIP data suggested the current moratorium could provide as much as a 77% reduction in total mortality.

"The Council will continue to closely monitor the Fishery Independent Sampling Program now in place for red snapper to follow the results of the continued moratorium on the harvest of red snapper," explained Chairman Cupka. "We are hopeful that the stock assessment scheduled for 2013 will show a marked improvement in the red snapper stock and managers will be able to allow some harvest as the stock continues to rebuild."

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council press release

Fishing Ban for South Atlantic Red Snapper Extended

NOAA’s Fisheries Service has announced that it will extend the ban of commercial and recreational fishing for the red snapper in federal waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the Atlantic coast of Florida.
                     
The prohibition takes effect, December 3, 2010, replacing a temporary fishing prohibition due to expire December 5. The final rule authorizing the action filed in the Federal Register.

The final rule also includes an area closure off southern Georgia and northeastern Florida, which would prohibit commercial and recreational fishing for snappers, groupers, and some other bottom fish species to reduce bycatch of red snapper.

According to NOAA, the additional area closure will be delayed until June 1 to allow time to consider the results of a new scientific assessment that the red snapper population may be in better condition than was previously estimated.

The assessment was completed after the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council submitted its request for NOAA’s Fisheries Service to implement the final rule. By delaying the area closure, the agency is providing additional time for the council to review the new scientific assessment and reconsider the area closure.

The final rule also requires fishermen to use non-stainless steel circle hooks, which can reduce hook-related injuries, when fishing for snapper-grouper species with natural bait in federal waters north of the 28 degrees north latitude. The circle hook requirement becomes effective March 3.

The South Atlantic Council is scheduled to review the new assessment and discuss the area closure at its December meeting in North Carolina.

source: NOAA press release