After approving the Amendment 16 the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council’s (SAFMC) has invited public opinion in which commercial and recreational fishermen and state fisheries rule makers supported closures, rather than size limits, and voiced concerns to end the overfishing in danger zones. The council has jurisdiction in the federal waters off the coast of North Carolina. It has proposed an amendment, Amendment 16, to its snapper grouper fishery management plan (FMP) in an effort to stop overfishing of gag and vermillion snapper.
According to Greg Waugh, deputy director of the council, overfishing is pretty bad with gag grouper. He said that the council is looking at a 35 percent reduction on gag referring to the commercial harvest. Vermillion snapper are also undergoing overfishing, and a 61 percent reduction is called for on their commercial harvest. Waugh told that the council is getting a new stock assessment in December. It is said that the council is under a legal requirement to take action once it’s been told a stock is undergoing overfishing.
If the snapper back in better position then the agency will do adjustments to the proposed amendment. The amendment is expected to cause a 23 percent reduction in the operating revenue of commercial vessels in North Carolina that land at least one pound of gag grouper. Jess Hawkins, at-large member of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission, strongly support the closure of seasons over size limits. He told that he don’t recommend interim allocations for gag as it is difficult for North Carolina fishermen to make up days seeking these species.
Greg Andrews, a recreational fisherman and diver, expressed his concerned regarding overregulation and over-restriction that will eliminate the opportunity to fish. He also questions the accuracy of the assessment data.
