Final Red Snapper Rule

[silverking]

SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN

FB12-038
Cynthia.Meyer@noaa.gov
727-824-5305

May 30, 2012

Final Rule - Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Quota Increases and Recreational Season

NOAA Fisheries Service published a final rule for Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper (77 FR 31734). The rule increases the commercial and recreational quotas and establishes the 2012 recreational red snapper fishing season. The recreational season will open on June 1, 2012, at 12:01 a.m. and close on July 11, 2012, at 12:01 a.m.

The rule sets the 2012 and 2013 quotas for commercial and recreational red snapper harvest. The quotas have been increased because recent population assessments show that overfishing has ended. The red snapper allowable catch increased from 7.185 million pounds whole weight in 2011 to the following:



Acceptable Biological Catch
2012: 8.080
2013: 8.690
Commercial Allocation (51%)
2012: 4.121
2013: 4.432
Recreational Allocation (49%)
2012: 3.959
2013: 4.258

If the combined commercial and recreational catch exceeds the 8.08 million pound acceptable catch level, the 2013 quota increase would require further scientific review and potential modification by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

In addition, the rule eliminated the fixed recreational red snapper closed season of October 1 - December 31. By eliminating the October 1 fishing season closure date, OAA Fisheries Service may re-open the recreational season for red snapper if any remaining quota is available, without the delay of additional rule making.

Recreational Season
NOAA Fisheries Service projects the 2012 recreational quota will be harvested in 40 days. Recreational landings in 2011 exceeded the quota by 730,000 pounds. Catches in 2011 exceed the 2012 quota; therefore, NOAA Fisheries Service has shortened the 2012 season compared to 2011 to prevent landings from exceeding the 2012 quota.

The population of red snapper is growing and the fish are getting bigger, so more large fish are being caught more quickly, which fills the recreational quota faster.

Without the proposed quota increases for 2012, the 2011 recreational quotas would remain in effect, and the 2012 recreational season would be even shorter.

A copy of the 2012 Recreational Red Snapper Quota Closure Analysis is available online at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/GrouperSna ... efFish.htm

This summary is not a substitute for the actual regulations. We encourage you to read the full text of the regulations, available at www.sero.noaa.gov.

To view a complete list of Fishery Bulletins, visit the NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office website at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

This announcement is forwarded as a courtesy of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.

[Badbagger]

Excellent update, thank you.