Snowy Grouper Opens in South Atlantic Aug. 20

The recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic Region will re-open on August 20, 2015, with an annual catch limit of 23,647 pounds gutted weight or 4,152 fish. The recreational bag limit is one fish per vessel per day, while the recreational sector is open. The recreational sector will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on September 1, 2015. The recreational bag limit is zero during the closure. The recreational sector will re-open on May 1, 2016.

The commercial sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic Region will re-open on August 20, 2015, with an annual catch limit of 115,451 pounds gutted weight. The commercial trip limit will be 200 pounds gutted weight. The commercial sector will close when this new annual catch limit is met or projected to be met. As of August 6, 2015, 83,569 pounds gutted weight have been landed.

The season re-opening is a result of Regulatory Amendment 20 to the management plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic region which published in July (80 FR 43033).

More Information
For more information on Regulatory Amendment 20 and its rule-making, please follow this link:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2015/reg_am20/index.html.


This announcement is forwarded as a courtesy of the
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.