Snapper Grouper Amendment 18A

Implemented Regulations

• Defined a rebuilding strategy for BSB that holds catch constant (847,000 lbs ww rec ACL = 409,000 lbs gw and com ACL = 309,000 lbs gw) in fishing years 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 and then changes to rebuild in 2014/2015. (Rebuild is defined as a constant fishing mortality strategy that maintains the 66% probability of recovery rate throughout the remaining fishing seasons of the rebuilding timeframe.) After the 2015/2016 fishing season, the fishing mortality rate would be held constant until modified.
• Set ACL=OY=ABC.
• Set recreational ACT=rec ACL*(1-PSE) or rec ACL*0.5, whichever is greater.
• Limit endorsement and tag distribution to entities with a valid or renewable SA unlimited SG permit on the date of the final rule whose average annual BSB landings using BSB pot gear between 1/1/99 and 12/31/10 were at least 2,500 lbs ww.
• Excluded unlimited SG permits with no reported commercial landings of BSB using pot gear between 1/1/08 and 12/31/2010.
• Establish an appeals process for fishermen excluded from the BSB pot endorsement program: a period of 90 days will be set aside for appeals. the RA will review appeals and makes decisions based on logbooks.
• Allocated transferability of BSB pot endorsements: a valid pot endorsement can be transferred between any two individuals or entities that hold a valid or simultaneously obtains a valid SG permit. The endorsement and associated landings history of BSB can be transferred regardless of whether or not the SA Unlimited SG permit is transferred.
• Required that each BSB pot in the water or at sea on a vessel to have an attached valid ID tag issued by NOSS Fisheries.
• Limited pot tags to 35 per vessel each permit year. NOAA Fisheries will issue new ID tags each permit year that replace the tags from the previous year. endorsements will be automatically renewed at the same time the SG permit is renewed.
• Required that all pots must be brought back to shore at the conclusion of each trip.
• Modified AMs for BSB: Rec – removed the 3-yr running average provision used to determine rec ACL overages. If the ACL is met, independent of stock status, close the season. If the ACL is exceeded the RA will publish a notice to reduce the rec sector in the following year by the amount of the overage. Com –  if the ACL is met, independent of stock status, close the season. If the ACL is exceeded the RA will publish a notice to reduce the com sector in the following year.
• Increased the recreational min size from 12in TL to 13in TL.
• Increased the commercial min size from 10in TL to 11in TL.
• Required selected vessels with a permit to report landings electronically