Final Rule to Implement Amendment 49, New Catch Levels and Management Measures for South Atlantic Greater Amberjack

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries announces changes to the management of South Atlantic greater amberjack.  The latest population assessment of South Atlantic greater amberjack determined the population is neither overfished (too few fish in the population) nor undergoing overfishing (fish being removed from the population too quickly).
• For greater amberjack, these changes include revising catch limits, sector allocations, commercial minimum size limit, commercial trip limit for Season 2 (September through February), and the April spawning season closure. 
• In addition, recreational annual catch targets for snapper-grouper species will be removed from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

When Rule Will Take Effect:

Regulations will be effective October 26, 2023.

What this means:

• Amendment 49:
  • Specifies an overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch based on recommendations from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee.
  • Modifies the recreational and commercial sector allocations to 65.00% and 35.00%, respectively, which have been revised from 59.34% recreational and 40.66% commercial.
  • Removes annual catch targets for snapper-grouper species from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region because they are not used.
• The rule:
  • Sets the total (population) annual catch limit equal to the acceptable biological catch.
  • Applies revised sector allocations to the total annual catch limit to specify sector annual catch limits.
  • Separates the commercial annual catch limit into a Season 1 quota (60% during March through August) and a Season 2 quota (40% during September through February) (Table 2).
  • Decreases the commercial minimum size limit in federal waters from 36 to 34 inches fork length.
  • Increases the September 1 through the end of February (Season 2) commercial trip limit from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds whole weight or gutted weight.
  • Modifies the April seasonal closures for the commercial and recreational sectors.  During April each year, no person may sell, purchase, harvest, or possess a greater amberjack from South Atlantic federal waters, and the harvest and possession limits are zero.

Table 1.  South Atlantic greater amberjack total annual catch limit (ACL) in pounds (lbs) whole weight (ww) for the 2023/2024 to the 2026/2027 fishing years, until modified.

NOTE: Revised catch levels use recreational data calibrated to the Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey. 

*The total annual catch limit is equal to the annual optimum yield and the acceptable biological catch.  Catch levels beginning in 2026/2027 would remain in place until modified.

Table 2.  Proposed sector ACLs and commercial seasonal quotas for greater amberjack for South Atlantic greater amberjack in lbs ww or gutted weight (gw).

*Catch levels beginning in 2026/2027 would remain in place until modified.

**The total annual catch limit is allocated in pounds ww to the commercial and recreational sectors.  The commercial allocation is then converted to lbs gw) (divided by 1.04) for regulatory use in the commercial quota and seasonal quotas.

***Any remaining quota from commercial Season 1 (March-August) transfers to Season 2 (September-February).  Remaining quota from Season 2 is not carried forward.

Formal Federal Register Name/Number:  88 FR 65819, September 26, 2023

Where can I find more information on Amendment 49?

• Amendment 49 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-49-catch-level-adjustments-and-management-measure-modifications-greater-amberjack.
• By Mail: Mary Vara

NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

By FAX: (727) 824-5308

By Phone: (727) 824-5305

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the revised catch levels for South Atlantic greater amberjack?

• The results of the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review population assessment for South Atlantic greater amberjack, known as the SEDAR 59 (2020), showed that the population is not undergoing overfishing (fish removed from population too quickly) and is not overfished (too few fish in the population).
• The revised annual total annual catch limit will equal the acceptable biological catch recommended by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (See Table 1 above).

• The revised sector annual catch limits are based on recreational and commercial allocations of 65.00% and 35.00%, respectively.  The fishing year for greater amberjack is from March 1 through the end of February.  The current commercial annual catch limit for greater amberjack is allocated into two seasonal quotas: 60% for Season 1 (March through August) and 40% for Season 2 (September 1 through the end of February) (See Table 2 above).

What are the other new management measures and actions in Amendment 49 and the final rule?

• Amendment 49 and the final rule will decrease the commercial minimum size limit from 36 to 34 inches fork length to reduce the difference in size limits between sectors, which is intended to increase fairness and equity between sectors and commercial fishing efficiency.  Currently, the minimum size limits for the commercial and recreational sectors are 36 inches and 28 inches fork length, respectively.  
• Amendment 49 and the final rule will increase the commercial trip limit for Season 2 (September through February) during the fishing year from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds whole weight or gutted weight, to allow some increase in harvest of greater amberjack since the population assessment indicated the population is healthy and catch levels are being increased.  The Season 1 (March through August) commercial trip limit of 1,200 pounds whole weight or gutted weight) will not change.
• The current April spawning closure for greater amberjack limits harvest and possession to one fish per person per day or one per person per trip.  Amendment 49 and the final rule will require that all harvest and possession is prohibited during April, which offers some protection to spawning fish during a portion of their peak spawning period.  This action is also intended to increase fairness and equity between the commercial and recreational sectors.
• Additionally, Amendment 49 will remove snapper-grouper recreational annual catch targets from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region since they are not used, or anticipated to be used, for snapper-grouper management. 
• Amendment 49 also contains the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s updated goals and objectives for the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

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Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, FL now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701).  You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers.  Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application.  The mailbox will be checked daily.  For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750 

Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202