Species in the Snapper Grouper fishery management unit are assessed on a routine basis and stock status may change as new information becomes available. In addition, changes in management regulations, fishing techniques, social/economic structure, etc. can result in shifts in the percentage of harvest between user groups over time. Therefore, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has determined certain aspects of the current snapper grouper management system should be modified.
Proposed Amendment 15B Actions
Define Allocations for Snowy Grouper and Red Porgy
The Council is considering setting an interim allocation of total allowable catch between the commercial and recreational sectors for snowy grouper and red porgy.
Commercial and recreational allocations are needed to divide the future allowable harvest, as specified in the rebuilding plans for each species.
Allocations would be set to fairly and equitably distribute among sectors any adverse social and economic impacts of ending overfishing and rebuilding overfished stocks.
The Council is considering basing allocations on historical commercial and recreational landings.
Management reference points for golden tilefish
Maximum sustainable yield would be defined as 336,425 lbs whole weight.
Optimum yield would be 326,554 lbs whole weight.
Minimum stock size threshold would be defined as 1,454,063 lbs whole weight.
Maximum fishery mortality threshold would be 0.043.
Modify sales restrictions
Currently, commercial or recreational fishermen with state-issued licenses, who do not possess a valid federal snapper grouper commercial permit, may sell snapper grouper species harvested in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in an amount not exceeding applicable recreational bag limits.
The Council is considering requiring that unless a fishermen harvesting South Atlantic snapper grouper in the EEZ possesses a valid federal snapper grouper commercial permit, South Atlantic snapper grouper species possessed under the bag limits, may not be sold or purchased.
A person aboard a vessel with both a for-hire vessel permit and a Federal commercial snapper grouper permit is considered to be fishing as a charter when that vessel is less than 100 gross tons, and carries six or fewer passengers for hire. Snapper grouper caught on such a trip would not be allowed to be sold or purchased.
Implement a plan to monitor and assess bycatch
The Council proposes to adopt the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), Release, Discard, and Protected Species Module as the preferred method for monitoring and assessing bycatch.
Until the ACCSP module is fully funded, bycatch monitoring will be carried out through observer coverage, logbooks, electronic logbooks, video monitoring, marine recreational fishing statistics survey, state cooperation, and grant funded projects.
Require fishermen (i.e. commercial vessels with a snapper grouper permit, for-hire vessels with a for-hire permit, and private recreational vessels when fishing for snapper grouper species in the EEZ), if selected, to use observer coverage, logbooks, electronic logbooks, video monitoring, or any other method deemed necessary to measure bycatch by NOAA Fisheries Service.
Implement measures to minimize the impacts of incidental take on sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish
Require all vessels with commercial and for-hire snapper grouper vessel permits to:
Immediately release incidentally caught smalltooth sawfish by following the latest NOAA Fisheries Service approved guidance on smalltooth sawfish release.
Have a copy of the document, provided by NOAA Fisheries Service, titled “Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release with Minimal Injury” posted inside the wheelhouse, or within a waterproof case in a readily accessible area.
Post the NOAA Fisheries Service provided “sea turtle handling and release” guideline placard in side the wheelhouse or in an easily viewable area if there is no wheelhouse.
Tend to incidentally caught sea turtles in a manner consistent with the protocols specified in NOAA regulations.
Carry onboard a series of NOAA Fisheries Service approved dehooking and handling tools for hooked/entangled sea turtles.
Modify permit renewal and transferability requirements
The Council proposes to extend the renewal period on commercial snapper grouper permits to one year after the permit expires.
Allow an individual to transfer his or her individual limited access transferable vessel permit to a corporation whose shares are all held by the individual or the individual and one or more of his or her immediate family members. Such transfers may be done on a one to one permit transfer basis.
At the time of permit renewal, the corporation would also have to submit to NOAA Fisheries Service a current annual report, which specifies all shareholders of the corporation.
If the annual report shows a shareholder other than the shareholders listed in the original corporate documentation, the permit shall not be renewed unless such new shareholder is an immediate family member of the individual who originally transferred the vessel permit to the family corporation.
