Vermilion Snapper Fishery Closing in the South Atlantic

NOAA Fisheries has determined the July - December 2012 commercial annual catch limit of 302,523 pounds will be reached by that date.

The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and that 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, September 28, 2012.

The prohibition on sale or purchase 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, September 28, 2012, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

Recreational Sector:

During the commercial sector closure, all harvest and possession of vermilion snapper in or from closed federal waters of the South Atlantic is subject to the applicable bag and possession limits, and the sale or purchase of vermilion snapper taken from closed federal waters is prohibited. The bag and possession limits and the prohibition on sale or purchase, apply in state and federal waters of the South Atlantic for a vessel for which a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued. The bag limit for captain and crew is zero.