Snapper and Amberjack updates for the Gulf

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: April 28, 2011
[email protected] FB11-039
727-824-5305, FAX 727-824-5308
Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Quota Increases and Recreational Red Snapper Season
SMALL ENTITY GUIDE
NOAA Fisheries Service has published a final rule implementing increases in the commercial and recreational red snapper quotas in the Gulf of Mexico from 3.542 and 3.403 million pounds (MP) to 3.66 and 3.525 MP in 2011, respectively. A recent red snapper assessment update projected overfishing (rate of removal is too high) ended in 2009, and therefore, the total allowable catch can be increased from the existing 6.945 MP to 7.185 MP. This action was evaluated in a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The final rule published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2011.
The recreational red snapper season opens June 1, 2011. NOAA Fisheries Service has projected the red snapper recreational quota will be harvested by July 18, 2011. The fishing season will close at 12:01 a.m. July 19, 2011. The 48-day season is the shortest season to date since the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council chose to begin the season on June 1, and is, in part, the result of the increasing size of the fish being landed. Between 2007 and 2010, the average weight of a red snapper landed in the Gulf of Mexico increased from 3.32 to 5.34 pounds per fish. Between 2007 and 2008, there was a 29 percent increase in the average weight of red snapper landed. Between 2008 and 2009 there was an 18 percent increase in the average weight of red snapper landed. Between 2009 and 2010 there was a 5.4 percent increase in the average weight of red snapper landed. Between 2010 and 2011, stock assessment projections indicate average weight will increase by 10 percent. The observed increases in average weight appear to be tracking stock assessment projections, but at a slightly lower rate of increase. Increases in average weight are expected as the stock rebuilds and the number of older, larger fish in the population increases. For more information on how the red snapper season length was calculated, refer to a document titled "2011 Recreational Red Snapper Quota Closure Analysis" located on the Southeast Regional Office's Web Page (see below).
This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This bulletin provides only a summary of the information about the rule. Discrepancies between this bulletin and the rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.
Copies of the final rule are available by contacting NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Regional Office at 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. The final rule can be obtained in electronic form from the Federal Register Web site: Federal Register: Main Page (use advanced search for final rules using "BA54" as a keyword).
Need more information on this topic?
Southeast Regional Office's Web page:

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: April 28, 2011
[email protected] FB11-040
727-824-5305, FAX 727-824-5308
Establishment of a June and July Closed Season for the Recreational Harvest
of Greater Amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico
SMALL ENTITY GUIDE
NOAA Fisheries Service has published a final rule to establish a June 1 through July 31 seasonal closure for recreational harvest of greater amberjack in or from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) federal waters. The intended effect of the rule is to maintain the rebuilding plan targets for the overfished greater amberjack resource, reduce the likelihood of exceeding the recreational quota for greater amberjack, minimize the length of in-season quota closures for greater amberjack during peak recreational fishing months, and increase social and economic benefits for Gulf recreational fishers by maximizing the number of fishing days available to the recreational sector.
Background: In 2009, the recreational sector exceeded its greater amberjack quota. The recreational sector was closed on October 24 after NOAA Fisheries Service projected the recreational quota was met. Final landings indicated the recreational quota was exceeded by 9 percent. In accordance with established accountability measures, the recreational quota for 2010 was reduced to account for this overage.
In response to this quota closure, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council (Council) developed a regulatory amendment to establish a fixed closed season to the harvest of greater amberjack by the recreational sector. Based on public input, the Council selected to have a seasonal closure during June and July. These are peak recreational harvesting months of greater amberjack; closing federal waters during this time frame is expected to allow recreational fishing for greater amberjack to occur in all other months of the year, without exceeding the quota before year's end.
This two month closure coincides with the open recreational seasons for other managed reef fish species, including red snapper, and provides recreational fishers the opportunity to fish for at least one of the targeted species year round (provided the recreational quota for greater amberjack is not exceeded). A closed season for Gulf greater amberjack that overlaps with an open season for Gulf red snapper is intended to minimize the social and economic impacts to recreational fishers in the Gulf.
This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This bulletin provides only a summary of the information about the rule. Discrepancies between this bulletin and the rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.
Copies of the final rule are available by contacting NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Regional Office at 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. The final rule can be obtained in electronic form from the Federal Register Web site:
Federal Register: Main Page (use advanced search for final rules using "BA48" as a keyword).
Need more information on this topic?
Southeast Regional Office's Web page:
NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office
.