Snapper Grouper Amendment 20A

The wreckfish individual transferable quota program was implemented in March 1992, through Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, in order to end derby fishing practices.  Currently, there is latent effort in the commercial sector of the wreckfish fishery with very few active participants.  Furthermore, the latest recommendation of the acceptable biological catch for wreckfish by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s scientific and statistical committee, of 235,000 lbs whole weight (ww), is an 89% reduction from the current total allowable catch for wreckfish (2 million lbs ww).

The purpose of Amendment 20A is to facilitate the achievement of optimum yield in the commercial sector of the wreckfish fishery that would otherwise not occur due to a combination of inactive shares and a reduced allowable catch.  The intended effect of the actions is to maximize harvest potential in the commercial sector of the wreckfish fishery, while staying within the constraint of the annual catch limit.

Public hearings for Amendment 20A were held from November 14-18, 2011, and on December 5, 2011.  Visit the South Atlantic Council’s web site for details.

FB12-023: NOAA Fisheries Service Seeks Public Comment on the Proposed Rule for Amendment 20A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region - Comment Period Ends April 30, 2012

Amendment 20A

• Define and revoke inactive wreckfish shares.
• Redistribute revoked shares to active shareholders.
• Define a cap on the number of shares one entity may own.
• Establish an appeals process for share redistribution.

To view the environmental assessment of Amendment 20A, please click the links below:

Amendment 20A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region

• Appendices

Proposed Rule