The Council was notified in July 2008 red snapper are overfished and undergoing overfishing. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has submitted a request to prohibit harvest and possession of red snapper through interim measures while permanent measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock are developed through Amendment 17 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. NOAA Fisheries Service has completed a draft environmental assessment: “Interim Measures to Reduce overfishing of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic.”
Red Snapper Interim Rule Actions
The proposed interim rule would establish a 180 day closure corresponding with peak spawning of red snapper with the possibility of extending the closure for additional 186 days.
During the closure, the harvest, possession, and/or sale of red snapper in the South Atlantic region would be prohibited for both recreational and commercial fishermen.
The provisions of the proposed interim rule with respect to federal permit holders, would apply regardless of where the fish are harvested (i.e. state or federal waters).
