NMFS Issues Final Rule for Red Snapper Management Measures in the Gulf of Mexico

Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a final rule to implement management measures for the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing commercial and recreational quotas for the 2012 and 2013 fishing years, eliminating the October 1 closure date for recreational fishing, and announcing the quota closure date for the 2012 recreational fishing season. This rule aims to provide more flexibility in managing recreational red snapper and achieve optimum yield without increasing the risk of overfishing.