Snapper Grouper Amendment 44
Amendment Summary
Purpose of Amendment: Revise Acceptable Biological Catch for yellowtail and mutton snapper based on the latest assessment (SEDAR 96, 2025, SEDAR 79 2024) to include updated recreational landings estimates. (MRIP-FES).
Action Summary: For both stocks, which are jointly managed between the SAFMC and GMFMC, adopt the recommended Acceptable Biological Catch, and adjust jurisdictional allocation between the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Councils.
Key Events:
- December 2020: Amendment development initiated (jointly with the Gulf Council).
- June 2021: Review the APs input on the fishery’s performance, a fishery overview, and a draft options paper including actions previously considered (in 2018).
- September 2021: Review preliminary analyses and approve for scoping. Request input from stakeholders on commercial management measures (commercial trip limits) and get feedback from advisors (SG and Reef Fish APs) and the Gulf Council.
- November 2021: Scoping hearings held on November 2 and 3.
- December 2021: Work on the amendment suspended pending an interim analysis to include three additional years of data (through 2020).
- September 2022: interim analysis results presented to Council. Direction to reinitiate work on the amendment.
- December 2022: The Council decided to delay work on the amendment until June 2023.
- June 2023: Gulf and South Atlantic Councils reviewed actions and alternatives, preliminary analysis and draft amendment.
- September 2023: paused development to allow time for SSCs (SA and Gulf) to reconsider the recommended stock ABC because of MRIP-FES issue and to determine whether the assessment can be re-done with FL State Reef Fish Survey data.
- December 2023 (work paused): Motion was made to de-prioritize work on the amendment until after a new assessment is completed that incorporates SRFS data.
- December 2024: Assessments for yellowtail and mutton snapper will be reviewed by South Atlantic and Gulf SSC sub-groups in February 2025. The Council approved the approach for OFL, ABC, and jurisdictional allocation, following SSC recommendations. The Gulf Council will serve as the administrative lead.
Most recent amendment document
- Final approval
- Implementation
- Pre-scoping
- Public hearing
- Rule making
- Scoping
- Secretarial review