According to the news report SAFMC will hold a series of public hearings in November regarding proposed management measures within Amendments 17A, 17B, and Amendment 18 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. It is said that during the hearings, Council staff will provide overviews of the management alternatives for Amendments 17A, 17B and Amendment 18 and will be available to answer questions. Area Council members will be on hand to receive comments and recommendations.
The deadline for receiving written comments regarding the amendments will be November 25, 2009. Specific instructions regarding the submission of written comments are included in the Public Hearing documents. Please specify the individual amendment and specific management alternatives that are being addressed in all written comments.
It is informed that the hearing versions of Amendments 17A, 17B and 18 including a comprehensive listing of management alternatives under consideration and appendices plus Public Hearing Summaries for each amendment. Snapper Grouper Amendment 17A – Red snapper are currently undergoing overfishing and are overfished. Amendment 17A establishes Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Accountability Measures (AMs) for red snapper, long term management measures to rebuild the red snapper stock, and a monitoring program for red snapper.
Snapper Grouper Amendment 18 – Additional measures are being considered for the snapper-grouper complex, including expansion of the management unit northward, limiting access for the golden tilefish fishery, measures for the black sea bass pot fishery, change in fishing year for golden tilefish, improvements in fisheries statistics, and designation of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as necessary.
