NOAA Fisheries approves new red snapper rules

NOAA Fisheries has approved changes to the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery designed to help rebuild the red snapper stocks.

On April 10th, NOAA Fisheries approved a rule establishing two components within the recreational sector that fishes for red snapper.

The components include a federal for-hire component, which includes all for-hire operators with a valid or renewable federal reef fish charter vessel/headboat permit.

It also includes a private angling component, which includes private recreational fishermen as well as for-hire operators who do not have the federal reef fish charter vessel/headboat permit.

Under the new rule, just over 42 percent of the recreational quota will go to the federal for-hire component and about 58 percent will go to the private angling component.

The component seasons will start on June 1st and end when the individual component's annual catch target is projected to be caught.

Season lengths are expected to be announced in late April or early May.

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