During the special meeting, the Reef Fish Committee will discuss several issues related to the
management of red snapper. The Committee will review an analysis by the Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC) of an estimated 1.6 million pound overharvest of red snapper during the 2012
recreational season. The SSC is recommending a 0.38 million pound increase in the acceptable
biological catch in 2013 to 8.46 million pounds.
The Committee will also review an analysis on how a 1-fish bag limit might increase the recreational red
snapper season length. Based on these analyses, the Committee will recommend preferred alternatives
in a draft framework action to adjust the red snapper commercial and recreational quotas and the
recreational bag limit.
The Committee will also discuss:
- red snapper allocations
- a 5-year review of the red snapper individual fishing quota (IFQ) program
- a scoping document on red snapper regional management issues
The agenda also includes an item for an open discussion of red snapper management issues. The
recommendations of the Committee will be presented to the full Council at its 5 - 8 February 2013
meeting in Mobile, Alabama.
Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630 or can be
downloaded from the Council's ftp site, ftp.gulfcouncil.org.
Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Committee for discussion,
in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may
not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the Committee will be restricted to
those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that
require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address
the emergency.
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation
or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at least five working days prior to the meeting.
