Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region

NMFS is proposing changes to the management of red snapper and other species in the snapper-grouper complex through Amendment 59 to the Snapper-Grouper FMP (Amendment 59), specifically, to end and prevent overfishing of the South Atlantic red snapper stock and maintain adequate rebuilding progress. For South Atlantic red snapper, Amendment 59 and its draft environmental impact statement analyzes the impacts of a reasonable range of alternatives intended to: revise the fishing mortality at the maximum sustainable yield proxy to determine overfishing, modify the acceptable biological catch, reduce dead discards to increase catch levels, increase the commercial trip limit, modify the commercial and recreational fishing seasons, modify the fishing year, and establish an annual experimental studies program. To achieve the red snapper dead discard reduction target, Amendment 59 would implement a discard reduction season for recreational fishermen using hook-and-line fishing gear that would apply to all species in the snapper-grouper complex.

In-Person Public Hearings – Dates and Locations:

As part of the development of Amendment 59, the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office will host a series of in-person public hearings. During these public hearings, NOAA Fisheries will review Amendment 59 and the proposed options for the management of red snapper and snapper-grouper species in South Atlantic federal waters. The structure of the public hearings will allow for a presentation on the amendment and proposed rule at 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm on February 5, 6, 24, and 25, 2025. There will be separate breakout rooms for the public to ask questions, obtain more information on Amendment 59 and the proposed rule, and formally submit public comments to NOAA Fisheries.

The March 5, 2025, public hearing will be held in conjunction with the scheduled March meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council). A presentation on the measures proposed in Amendment 59 will be provided by NOAA Fisheries at 1:00 pm and comments on Amendment 59 will be accepted during the South Atlantic Council’s scheduled public comment period starting at 4:00 pm.

The public hearings will be held at the following times and locations:

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