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. The Council was given one year to prepare a fishery management plan amendment or proposed regulations to end overfishing of these fish stocks. Amendment 16 to the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan is being developed with the objective of fulfilling this requirement by proposing four actions intended to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic region.
Proposed Amendment 16 Actions
Establish annual total allowable catch (TAC) levels to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper.
Consider alternatives for interim commercial and recreational allocations of the annual TAC for gag and vermilion snapper. Allocations would be 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.
Consider a wide array of management measures for the commercial and recreational sectors to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper.
