Southeast Fishery Bulletin
National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jack McGovern, or John.McGovern@noaa.gov September 21, 2006
Kim Amendola, or Kim.Amendola@noaa.gov FB06-040
727/824-5305, FAX 727/824-5308
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov

Notice of Final Rule for Amendment 13C to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP)

CHANGES INTENDED TO REDUCE HARVESTS, END OVERFISHING
AND ACHIEVE OPTIMUM YIELD

NOAA Fisheries Service has published a final rule in the Federal Register implementing the approved regulatory actions in Amendment 13C to the FMP. The final rule is effective October 23, 2006. The intent of the amendment is to reduce harvests, end overfishing, and achieve optimum yield (the amount of fish that will achieve the maximum sustainable yield, as reduced by any relevant economic, social, or ecological factor) through the following management measures:
Snowy grouper:

• Decrease the annual commercial quota over three years from 151,000 pounds gutted weight (lbs gw) in 2006 to 118,000 lbs gw in 2007, and 84,000 lbs gw in 2008;
• decrease the commercial trip limit over three years from 275 lbs gw in 2006 to 175 lbs gw in 2007, and 100 lbs gw in 2008; and
• limit possession to one per person per day within the 5-grouper per person per day aggregate recreational bag.

Golden tilefish:

• Reduce the annual commercial quota to 295,000 lbs gw;
• reduce the commercial trip limit to 4,000 lbs gw, which would decrease to 300 lbs gw if 75 percent of the quota were taken by September 1; and
• limit possession to one per person per day within the 5-grouper per person per day aggregate recreational bag limit.

Vermilion snapper:

• Establish an annual commercial quota of 1,100,000 lbs gw; and
• increase the recreational minimum size limit from 11-inch total length (TL) to 12-inch TL.

Black sea bass:

• Change commercial and recreational fishing years from the calendar year to June 1 through May 31;
• establish and decrease an annual commercial quota, over three years from 477,000 lbs gw in year 1 (June 1, 2006, to May 31, 2007) to 423,000 lbs gw in year 2 (June 1, 2007, to May 31, 2008), and 309,000 lbs gw in year 3 (June 1, 2008, to May 31, 2009);
• require the use of at least 2-inch mesh for the entire back panel of pots;
• remove pots from the water once the commercial quota is met;
• establish a recreational allocation that would decrease over three years from 633,000 lbs gw in year 1 to 560,000 lbs gw in year 2, and 409,000 lbs gw in year 3;
• increase the recreational size limit from 10-inch TL to 11-inch TL in year 1 and 12-inch TL in year 2; and
• reduce the recreational bag limit from 20 to 15 per person per day.

Red porgy:

• Increase the commercial trip limit to 120 fish during May through December;
• establish a commercial quota of 127,000 lbs gw; and
• increase the recreational bag limit from 1 to 3 red porgy per person per day.

Answers to frequently asked questions about Amendment 13C can be found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/grouper/FAQs%20092106.pdf
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In 2007 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.

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Contact: Nancy Fish
Date: September 25, 2006 Phone: (252) 726-7021

FISHERIES LICENSE OFFICES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE OCTOBER 17

MOREHEAD CITY - The Division of Marine Fisheries’ license offices in Elizabeth City, Columbia, Wanchese, Washington, and Wilmington will be temporarily closed on Tuesday, October 17 so staff may attend a mandatory staff meeting. The offices will resume regular office hours on October 18.

The Morehead City license office will be closed from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Contact: Nancy Fish
Date: September 18, 2006
Phone: (252) 726-7021

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION TO MEET SEPTEMBER 28 & 29

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet on September 28 and 29 at the Clam Digger Inn in Atlantic Beach, N.C. The meeting is open to the public.
On September 27, the commission will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the same location to discuss fishery issues.

Public input is needed on the following proposed rules for the hearing:
Compatibility of recreational tournament rules;
Designate Dicks Creek in Carteret County as a Primary Nursery Area;
Harvest limits for stone crab; and
Technical modifications to the Coastal Recreational Fishing License blanket licenses.

For more information about these proposed rules, please contact Nancy Fish by e-mail at nancy.fish@ncmail.net or by calling 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.

Written comments my be submitted to Belinda Loftin, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 or by e-mail to belinda.loftin@ncmail.net by September 26, 2006.

See Agenda