South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 14

Amendment Summary

Modified the fishing year for greater amberjack and black sea bass; modified the accountability measures for vermilion snapper and black sea bass; modified the trip limit for gag grouper.

Amendment documents

Implemented Regulations

  • Modified the commercial and recreational GAJ fishing year to begin on Mar 1 and end on Feb 28.
  • Modified the recreational fishing year for black sea bass to Apr 1 – Mar 31.
  • Modified the recreational black sea bass AM to NMFS will annually announce the recreational fishing season start and end dates.
  • The commercial black sea bass is Jan 1 – Dec 31. Pots prohibited from Nov 1 – Apr 30. From May 1 – Oct 31, the trip limit would be 1,000 lbs gw for pots. From May 1 – Dec 31 the trip limit is 1,000 lbs hw for H&L sector. Jan 1 – Apr 30 the H&L sector would be restricted to a trip limit of 300 lbs gw.
  • Modified the gag commercial trip limit to reduce to 500 lbs gw (from 1,000 lbs gw) when 75% of the commercial ACL is met.
  • Modified the recreational AMs for vermilion to include an in-season closure when rec ACL is exceeded and a post-season AM which is triggered by the rec ACL, total ACL, and overfished status.
  • Final approval
  • Implementation
  • Pre-scoping
  • Public hearing
  • Rule making
  • Scoping
  • Secretarial review