Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2016 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Vermilion Snapper

Resumen

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects that commercial landings of vermilion snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the July through December 2016 period on October 11, 2016. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on October 11, 2016, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing season on January 1, 2017. This closure is necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.