The 2014 commercial catch limit is 50,994 pounds gutted weight. Reports indicate that commercial landings are rapidly approaching the 2014 catch limit and harvest should close.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and that is landing red snapper for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such red snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 9, 2014.
The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of red snapper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) September 9, 2014, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure:
- Sale and purchase of red snapper are prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters.
This closure is necessary to protect the snapper-grouper resource.
Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic established the annual process to determine red snapper fishing seasons and harvest amounts. If NOAA Fisheries determines that commercial and recreational red snapper seasons can occur in 2015, an announcement will be made in a Fishery Bulletin next year.
