Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 9

Résumé

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). This proposed rule would increase the minimum size for red porgy, black sea bass, gag, and black grouper for all participants in the fishery; increase the minimum size for vermilion snapper for a person subject to the bag limit; establish bag limits for red porgy and black sea bass; during March and April, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit and prohibit purchase and sale of red porgy, gag grouper, and black grouper; for greater amberjack, reduce the bag limit, establish a commercial quota and trip limit, prohibit sale of greater amberjack caught under the bag limit when the commercial fishery is closed, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during April, change the beginning of the fishing year to May 1, and prohibit coring (i.e., removing the head from the carcass); restrict possession of gag and black grouper within the aggregate grouper bag limit; establish an aggregate bag limit for all snapper-grouper species currently not under a bag limit (excluding tomtate and blue runner); req