Key Messages:
- NOAA Fisheries announces changes to the management of South Atlantic greater amberjack. The latest population assessment of South Atlantic greater amberjack determined the population is neither overfished (too few fish in the population) nor undergoing overfishing (fish being removed from the population too quickly).
- For greater amberjack, these changes include revising catch limits, sector allocations, commercial minimum size limit, commercial trip limit for Season 2 (September through February), and the April spawning season closure.
- In addition, recreational annual catch targets for snapper-grouper species will be removed from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
When Rule Will Take Effect:
Regulations will be effective October 26, 2023.
What This Means:
- Amendment 49:
- Specifies an overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch based on recommendations from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee.
- Modifies the recreational and commercial sector allocations to 65.00% and 35.00%, respectively, which have been revised from 59.34% recreational and 40.66% commercial.
- Removes annual catch targets for snapper-grouper species from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region because they are not used.
- The rule:
- Sets the total (population) annual catch limit equal to the acceptable biological catch.
- Applies revised sector allocations to the total annual catch limit to specify sector annual catch limits.
- Separates the commercial annual catch limit into a Season 1 quota (60% during March through August) and a Season 2 quota (40% during September through February) (Table 2).
- Decreases the commercial minimum size limit in federal waters from 36 to 34 inches fork length.
- Increases the September 1 through the end of February (Season 2) commercial trip limit from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds whole weight or gutted weight.
- Modifies the April seasonal closures for the commercial and recreational sectors. During April each year, no person may sell, purchase, harvest, or possess a greater amberjack from South Atlantic federal waters, and the harvest and possession limits are zero.
Table 1. South Atlantic greater amberjack total annual catch limit (ACL) in pounds (lbs) whole weight (ww) for the 2023/2024 to the 2026/2027 fishing years, until modified.
Fishing Year
|
Total ACL
(lbs ww)
|
2023/2024
|
3,233,000
|
2024/2025
|
2,818,000
|
2025/2026
|
2,699,000
|
2026/2027*
|
2,669,000
|
NOTE: Revised catch levels use recreational data calibrated to the Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey.
*The total annual catch limit is equal to the annual optimum yield and the acceptable biological catch. Catch levels beginning in 2026/2027 would remain in place until modified.
Table 2. Revised sector annual catch limits (ACL) and commercial seasonal quotas for greater amberjack for South Atlantic greater amberjack in lbs ww or gutted weight (gw), as specified.
Year
|
Total ACL**
(lbs ww)
|
Recreational ACL
(lbs ww)
|
Commercial ACL
(lbs gw)
|
Commercial Season 1 Quota***
(lbs gw)
|
Commercial Season 2 Quota
(lbs gw)
|
2023/2024
|
3,233,000
|
1,918,462
|
1,263,979
|
758,387
|
505,591
|
2024/2025
|
2,818,000
|
1,672,201
|
1,101,730
|
661,038
|
440,692
|
2025/2026
|
2,699,000
|
1,601,587
|
1,055,205
|
633,123
|
422,082
|
2026/2027*
|
2,669,000
|
1,583,785
|
1,043,476
|
626,086
|
417,391
|
*Catch levels beginning in 2026/2027 would remain in place until modified.
**The total annual catch limit is allocated in pounds ww to the commercial and recreational sectors. The commercial allocation is then converted to lbs gw) (divided by 1.04) for regulatory use in the commercial quota and seasonal quotas.
***Any remaining quota from commercial Season 1 (March-August) transfers to Season 2 (September-February). Remaining quota from Season 2 is not carried forward.
Formal Federal Register Name/Number: 88 FR 65819, September 26, 2023
Where can I find more information on Amendment 49?
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
By FAX: (727) 824-5308
By Phone: (727) 824-5305
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