On June 12, 2007, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) was notified that South Atlantic stocks of gag and vermilion snapper are undergoing overfishing. Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic Region was partially approved by the Secretary of Commerce on March 25, 2009. The final rule for Amendment 16 was effective on July 29, 2009.
Establish annual total allowable catch (TAC) levels to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper.
Establish interim commercial and recreational allocations of the annual TAC for gag and vermilion snapper. Allocations have been set with an emphasis on fairly and equitably distributing any adverse social and economic impacts of ending overfishing and rebuilding overfished stocks.
Specify management reference points including maximum sustainable yield, optimum yield, minimum stock size threshold, and maximum fishing mortality threshold for gag and vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic based on results from recent assessments.
Establish management measures for the commercial and recreational sectors to address overfishing of gag, red grouper, black grouper, and vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic region and protect shallow water grouper species during their spawning season.
Requires the use of dehooking tools, as needed, to reduce bycatch mortality.
