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Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Vermilion Snapper, Red Snapper 1
Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Vermilion
Snapper, Red Snapper
Review and Discussion
Revision Date: September 9, 2008
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Marine Fisheries Management
Update: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Key Largo from August
11-15, 2008 and finalized management alternatives for gag and red grouper. This
document has been updated to reflect actions taken at that meeting beginning on page
15.
This is a review and discussion of management alternatives for gag grouper, vermilion
snapper, and red snapper being considered by the South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (SAFMC), and also for gag and red groupers by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council (GMFMC). The SAFMC will meet in Charleston, SC from
September 15-19, 2008 and is expected to take final action on proposals to reduce
fishing effort for gag grouper and other related shallow-water grouper species, vermilion
snapper, and red snapper. Authors: Mark Robson, William Teehan 2
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Gag Grouper
Assessment Indicates Overfishing Too much fishing pressure
Current rate 1.3 times maximum allowable
37% reduction in harvest needed
Gag Grouper (SAFMC) - Regulatory changes are scheduled to be approved in
September. The proposed actions would significantly restrict fishing for gag grouper in
the South Atlantic. These actions would include restrictions on the harvest of other
shallow-water grouper species, including black grouper.
The assessment for gag grouper that led to these proposed restrictions indicates that
harvest must be reduced by 37% to end excessive fishing pressure under established
federal standards. Current fishing mortality is about 1.3 times the maximum allowable.
Other shallow-water grouper species are included in the proposed closed season
proposals because fishing for these species as a group is predicted to result in
additional harvest and release mortality of gag grouper. 3
Allocation Alternative (Currently no allocation)
51% commercial and 49% recreational
Council Preferred Alternative
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper (SAFMC) contd - The Council selected a preferred allocation of 51%
commercial and 49% recreational harvest. The allocation is considered interim and is
based on average landings from 1999-2006. These years take into account regulatory
changes put into effect in 1999 that tended to lower the relative amount of commercial
harvest.
The Council is developing allocation criteria that will likely result in a recalculation of the
allowable harvest among the commercial, recreational and for-hire fishing sectors. 4
Preferred Management Measures
(before the June 2008 Council meeting)
Establish a regional commercial quota
Establish a spawning season closure for all harvest
January through April
Recreational bag limit reduction
1 gag or black grouper out of an aggregate bag limit of 3 shallow-
water groupers
Captain and crew cannot possess bag limit
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Gag Grouper
Gag grouper (SAFMC) contd Prior to the June 2008 meeting, the Council identified preferred
management actions that would achieve the 37% reduction in harvest for gag grouper deemed
necessary to comply with federal directives to end overfishing:
1) Establish regional commercial quotas. The commercial catch would be reduced to about
354,000 pounds annually. This takes into account an additional amount of fish that are likely to be
harvested and discarded dead after a quota closure occurs. This equates to approximately a 35%
reduction from historical commercial landings.
2) Establish a spawning season closure for both recreational and commercial harvest. The
preferred closed period would be from January through April. Although targeting gag grouper, the
closed period would also include black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind,
yellowmouth grouper, tiger grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney.
3) Restrict recreational harvest by combining a seasonal closure with a reduction of the bag limit.
The preferred alternative is a limit of 1 gag or black grouper in an aggregate bag limit of 3 shallow-
water groupers (the current bag limit is 2 gag or black groupers in the aggregate bag limit of 5 fish).
Captain and crew on for-hire vessels would not be allowed to possess a bag limit for groupers. This
action, combined with a 4-month closure, would reduce recreational harvest by 37 percent. 5
Proposed New Management Options
(after the June 2008 Council meeting)
Establish separate recreational and commercial closed seasons
Brand new commercial alternatives
Brand new alternative for the Keys
Applies to commercial and recreational harvest
No fishing for gag grouper year-round
Other shallow-water groupers restricted
Harvest of other species from January-May only
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Gag Grouper
Gag grouper (SAFMC) contd After public input received in May and some additional
recommendations from the Councils advisory panel at the June meeting, final action on the
proposed plan was postponed until the September 2008 meeting. Several new alternatives
were added to the plan at the June meeting, although the preferred measures mentioned in the
previous slide remain unchanged. These new alternatives are undergoing analysis and will be
taken up again at the Councils September meeting:
1) The Council will consider separate closed seasons for recreational and commercial fishing.
2) Two brand new commercial closed periods were added for consideration. One results in a
closed season of March-April (existing regulations), and another results in a closed season of
February-April.
3) The Council added a possible scenario that would prohibit the commercial and recreational
harvest of gag grouper in the Florida Keys year-round, but allow the harvest of all other shallow-
water groupers from January 1-May 31 each year. This alternative was proposed by members of
the Councils advisory panel to allow continued harvest of black grouper during the time of year
when they are heavily targeted in the Keys. 6
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Vermilion Snapper
Assessment Indicates Overfishing Too much fishing pressure
Current rate more than 2 times allowable
Exact reduction amount pending new data
Present target is 65% reduction
New information Fall 2008
Vermilion Snapper (SAFMC) The Council will take final action on proposed regulatory
changes to restrict harvest of vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic. Actions are
based on the most recent stock assessment. Current fishing mortality is estimated at
more than 2 times the maximum allowable rate to sustain the fishery for the long-term
under established federal standards.
Although an assessment update will be completed in late 2008, a public hearing
document was approved for public review at the March 2008 Council meeting. The
exact amount of harvest reduction needed is pending completion of the update, but it is
very likely that harvest will need to be reduced by more than 50%. The Council
determined that it must proceed with proposed regulatory options to be in a position to
address federal requirements to end overfishing within one year.
The Council is scheduled to take final action at the September meeting. 7
Allocation Alternative (Currently no allocation)
68% commercial and 32% recreational
Council Preferred Alternative
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion Snapper (SAFMC) contd - Currently there is no established allocation. The
Council has selected a preferred allocation of 68% commercial and 32% recreational
harvest. The allocation is considered interim and is based on average landings from
1986 to 2005. Different ranges of years do not significantly change this ratio.
The Council is developing allocation criteria that will likely result in a recalculation of the
allowable harvest among the commercial, recreational and for-hire fishing sectors. 8
65% Harvest Reduction (current target)
Establish a reduced commercial quota
Recreational Measures to reduce harvest
- Lower bag limit to 4 fish
- Keep size limit of 12 inches
- Implement closed season October 1-May 15
- Allow NMFS to adjust based on new assessment
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion Snapper (SAFMC) contd- The Council h