NOAA Fisheries Announces Modifications to Increase Red Grouper Allowable Harvest in the Gulf of Mexico

The following Southeast Fishery Bulletin from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office is provided as a courtesy to our subscribers.  SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN  (Gulf of Mexico) FB16-069 Rich Malinowski  727-824-5305 October 12, 2016  NOAA Fisheries Announces Modifications to Increase  Red Grouper Allowable Harvest in the Gulf of Mexico Small Entity Compliance Guide NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule modifying the red grouper commercial and recreational allowable harvest in the Gulf of Mexico. The new regulations become effective on October 12, 2016. The changes include: 1) Increases to the Gulf of Mexico red grouper annual catch limit and quota (annual catch target) for the commercial sector from 6.03 and 5.72 million pounds gutted weight, to 8.19 and 7.78 million pounds gutted weight, respectively. 2) Increases to the Gulf of Mexico red grouper annual catch limit and annual catch target for the recreational sector from 1.9 and 1.73 million pounds gutted weight, to 2.58 and 2.37 million pounds gutted weight, respectively. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has chosen to increase red grouper allowable harvest to allow the opportunity for the recreational fishing season to remain open yearlong instead of closing late in the season. In addition, the increase in quota will provide commercial fishermen an increase in their Individual Fishing Quota allocations. The increase in quota will be effective October 12, 2016. The commercial increase will not include additional multi-use allocation for 2016 to prevent the red grouper or gag annual catch limit from being exceeded.  Electronic Copies of the final rule and supporting documents may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Web site:   http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2016/red_grouper_ allowable_harvest/index.html This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

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