Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NOAA Fisheries requests comments on a proposed rule for Abbreviated Framework Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which addresses blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic. Abbreviated Framework Amendment 3 and the proposed rule would increase the annual catch limits and recreational annual catch target for South Atlantic blueline tilefish in response to the results of the latest population assessment.

Comments are due by May 15, 2020.

The proposed rule would increase the total and sector annual catch limits and the recreational annual catch target for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic.

New annual catch limits for blueline tilefish (in pounds whole weight) are as follows:

Total South Atlantic annual catch limit now 174,798 pounds; proposed 233,968 pounds. Commercial annual catch limit now 87,521 pounds; proposed 117,148 pounds. Recreational annual catch limit now 87,277 pounds; proposed 116,820 pounds; Recreational annual catch target now 54,653 pounds; proposed 70,886 pounds.

Comment by electronic submission or postal mail only

Online, go to regulations.gov for NOAA-NMFS-2020-0039.

Submit written comments to Mary Vara, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Abbreviated Framework Amendment 3 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Web site at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/abbreviated-framework-amendment-3-blueline-tilefish.

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Fishermen urged to complete license and permit renewals

Small mesh gill nets in Albemarle Sound area addressed