NOAA Fisheries announces final rule for Vermillion and Yellowtail snapper

NOAA Fisheries has announced a final rule that establishes a bag limit for vermilion snapper within the reef fish aggregate bag limit, sets the annual catch limit for yellowtail snapper, and eliminates the reef fish venting tool requirement.

The final rule will be effective September 3, 2013.

The new rule sets a 10-vermilion snapper bag limit within the 20-fish aggregate reef fish bag limit.

The vermilion snapper population is healthy but there are concerns that the population may be declining.

NOAA fisheries set the 10 fish bag limit to minimize the chance of the annual catch limit being met before the end of the fishing year. 

The rule also increases the Gulf of Mexico yellowtail snapper annual catch limit from 725,000 pounds to 901,125 pounds.

A recent assessment determined the yellowtail snapper population to be healthy, allowing for the increase.

The rule also eliminates the requirement to use venting tools when fishing for reef fish.

That change was made after some scientific studies questioned the usefulness of venting tools.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/