October 4, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) October 11, 2016. The 2016 July-December commercial catch limit is 431,460 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are approaching the commercial catch limit and should close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and is landing vermilion snapper for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such vermilion snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 11, 2016. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of vermilion snapper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) October 11, 2016, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the commercial closure:
- Harvest or possession of vermilion snapper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.
- Sale and purchase of vermilion snapper in or from federal waters is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
This closure is necessary to protect the vermilion snapper resources by preventing the commercial annual catch limit from being exceeded.