Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Gulf Red Snapper Management Measures

Résumé

This proposed rule would implement interim measures to reduce overfishing of Gulf red snapper. This proposed rule would reduce the commercial and recreational quotas for red snapper, reduce the commercial minimum size limit for red snapper, reduce the recreational bag limit for Gulf red snapper, prohibit the retention of red snapper under the bag limit for captain and crew of a vessel operating as a charter vessel or headboat, and establish a target level of reduction of shrimp trawl bycatch mortality of red snapper. The public comment period on the proposed rule will end on January 26, 2007, to provide the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the public the opportunity to discuss and comment on the rule at the January Council meeting. The intended effect is to reduce overfishing of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.