Request for Comments: Changes to Catch Levels and Management Measures for South Atlantic Greater Amberjack

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries is requesting public comments on the notice of availability and proposed rule for Amendment 49 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
• The amendment and proposed rule would respond to the latest population assessment of South Atlantic greater amberjack, which indicated the population is neither overfished nor undergoing overfishing.
• For South Atlantic greater amberjack, the amendment and proposed rule would:
  • Increase the acceptable biological catch, annual optimum yield, and annual catch limits;
  • Revise the recreational sector and commercial sector allocations;
  • Reduce the commercial minimum size limit;
  • Increase the commercial trip limit for Season 2 (September through February);
  • Revise the April spawning closure;
• For snapper-grouper species, the amendment would remove recreational annual catch targets from the fishery management plan.

Comments are due by August 21, 2023.

Summary of Proposed Changes in Amendment 49:

• Proposed catch levels and sector allocations for South Atlantic greater amberjack (Table 1):
  • The proposed annual optimum yield and total (stock) annual catch limit would be equal to the acceptable biological catch.
  • The proposed sector annual catch limits would be based on the revised allocation percentages for the recreational sector and commercial sector allocations of 65.00% and 35.00%, respectively.
  • The commercial ACL is further divided into Season 1 quota (60% during March through August) and Season 2 quota (40% during September through February) (Table 2).

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

NOTE: Proposed catch levels use recreational data calibrated to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey (FES).  Future recreational catches under these limits would be monitored by the MRIP-FES.

*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.

• Sector allocations:
  • The recreational and commercial sector allocations would be revised from 59.34% and 40.66% to 65.00% and 35.00%, respectively.
• Management measures for South Atlantic greater amberjack:
  • The commercial minimum size limit would be decreased in federal waters from 36 to 34 inches fork length;
  • Increase the September 1 through the end of February (Season 2) commercial trip limit from 1,000 to 1,200 lbs ww or gw;
  • Specify during April each year, no person may sell, purchase, harvest, or possess a greater amberjack from the South Atlantic federal waters, and the harvest and possession limits are zero.  This closure would apply to both the recreational and commercial sectors.
• Recreational annual catch targets (ACTs) for snapper-grouper species:
  • This proposed rule would remove recreational ACTs from the fishery management plan because they are not used.

How to Comment on the Notice of Availability and Proposed Rule:

The comment period for the notice of availability is open now through August 21, 2023.  The comment period on the proposed rule is expected to fall within this same timeframe, and comments on both the amendment and proposed rule will be considered in the final rule.  You may submit comments by electronic submission (described below) or by postal mail.  Comments received after the end of the comment period may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

Federal Register Citation: 88 FR 40190, published June 21, 2023

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0061-0002.

2. Click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields.

3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Mary Vara, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.

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)

Why are changes to management of South Atlantic greater amberjack being proposed?

• 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 and is not overfished.

• The amendment and proposed rule would revise the South Atlantic greater amberjack population overfishing limit (OFL), annual optimum yield (OY), acceptable biological catch (ABC), total annual catch limit (ACL), and sector ACLs, consistent with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee’s (SSC) recommendations in response to the latest population assessment.
• The amendment and proposed rule would revise management measures for South Atlantic greater amberjack.
• Additionally, the amendment would remove the recreational annual catch targets (ACT) for species in the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), since recreational ACTs are not used in management.

Why are the catch limits being increased?

• SEDAR 59 (2020) used updated recreational catch and effort data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey (FES).
• The previous stock assessment (SEDAR 15 2008) used recreational landings from the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS). 
• MRIP FES estimated larger than previously calculated catch and effort for the recreational sector than MRFSS, and estimates of historic recreational landings were greater than in the previous assessment.
• The Council’s SSC recommended an increase in the OFL and ABC to address the increase in recreational and commercial landings and catch per unit effort, which all showed an increasing trend in biomass.

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

• The proposed annual OY and total ACL would be equal to the ABC (See Table 1 above).
• The proposed sector ACLs 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 ACL for greater amberjack is allocated into two 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 proposed management measures and actions in Amendment 49?

• Amendment 49 and the proposed rule would reduce 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.
• Amendment 49 and the proposed rule would increase the commercial trip limit for Season 2 (September through February) during the fishing year from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds (lbs) whole or gutted weight (ww or gw), to allow some increase in harvest of a stock that is not overfished and above its reference biomass level.  The Season 1 (March through August) commercial trip limit of 1,200 lbs (lbs ww or gw) would 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 proposed rule would 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 would remove snapper-grouper recreational ACTs from the FMP since recreational ACTs are not used, or anticipated to be used, for snapper-grouper management. 
• Amendment 49 also contains the Council’s updated goals and objectives for the FMP.

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