February 28, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
KEY MESSAGE
NOAA Fisheries announces the final rule for Vision Blueprint Recreational Regulatory Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 26). The final rule will:
- Remove the recreational minimum size limits for queen snapper, silk snapper, and blackfin snapper in the South Atlantic region;
- Reduce the recreational minimum size limit for gray triggerfish in federal waters off east Florida; and
- Modify the 20-fish recreational aggregate bag limit in the South Atlantic region.
WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:
The rule will be effective on March 30, 2020.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES FOR THE RECREATIONAL SECTOR:
- Deep-water Species (queen snapper, silk snapper, and blackfin snapper)
- The final rule removes the 12-inch total length minimum size limit for queen snapper, silk snapper, and blackfin snapper.
- Gray Triggerfish
- The final rule reduces the minimum size limit in federal waters off the east coast of Florida from 14 inches to 12 inches fork length; and
- Retains the minimum size limit of 12 inches fork length in federal waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
20-Fish Aggregate Bag Limit
- The aggregate bag limit applies to the following species: whitebone porgy, jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, saucereye porgy, scup, gray triggerfish, bar jack, almaco jack, banded rudderfish, lesser amberjack, white grunt, margate, sailor’s choice, and Atlantic spadefish.
- The final rule maintains the 20-fish per person per day aggregate bag limit for the recreational sector. However, the rule limits the harvest of any one species within the aggregate bag limit to 10 fish.
FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 85 FR 11307, February 27, 2020.
A complete version of this Fishery Bulletin is available from NOAA Fisheries and includes a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and additional information.