Key Message:
- NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the notice of availability and proposed rule for Amendment 52 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 52).
- The latest population assessment determined South Atlantic golden tilefish is not undergoing overfishing and is not overfished.
- If implemented, Amendment 52 and the proposed rule would modify management of South Atlantic golden tilefish through revising the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, sector allocations, recreational accountability measures, and fishing season for the longline component.
- Amendment 52 and the proposed rule would also change the recreational bag and possession limits, and the accountability measures for blueline tilefish due to recreational landings exceeding the recreational catch limits in recent years.
- Comments are due by October 2, 2023.
Summary of Proposed Changes:
- Catch Levels and Sector Allocations for Golden Tilefish
- The proposed total annual catch limit would be equal to the acceptable biological catch of 435,000 pounds gutted weight (lbs gw) for 2023; 448,000 lbs gw for 2024; 458,000 lbs gw for 2025; and 466,000 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
- The proposed golden tilefish sector annual catch limits would be based on a revised commercial and recreational allocation of 96.70% and 3.30%, respectively.
- The commercial annual catch limits would be 420,645 lbs gw for 2023; 433,216 lbs gw for 2024; 442,886 lbs gw for 2025; and 450,622 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
- Amendment 52 does not modify the allocation formula between the commercial hook-and-line and longline components but does revise the hook-and-line and longline component annual catch limits (quotas) based on the revised commercial sector annual catch limit.
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- The commercial hook-and-line component annual catch limits would be 105,161 lbs gw for 2023; 108,304 lbs gw for 2024; 110,722 lbs gw for 2025; and 112,656 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
- The commercial longline component annual catch limits would be 315,484 lbs gw for 2023; 324,912 lbs gw for 2024; 332,165 lbs gw for 2025; and 337,967 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
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- The recreational annual catch limits would be 2,559 fish for 2023; 2,635 fish for 2024; 2,694 fish for 2025; and 2,741 fish for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
- Commercial Longline Component Fishing Season
- The proposed rule would change the start date for the fishing season for the commercial longline component from January 1 to January 15.
- Blueline Tilefish Recreational Bag and Possession Limits
- The proposed rule would reduce the recreational bag limit for blueline tilefish from three fish to two fish per person per day and prohibit retention of the bag limit by captain and crew.
- Recreational Accountability Measures for Golden Tilefish and Blueline Tilefish
- The current in-season closure and stock status based post-season accountability measures would be removed.
- Under the revised recreational accountability measures, NOAA Fisheries would project the length of the recreational season based on when the recreational annual catch limit would be expected to be met using catch rates from the previous fishing year. NOAA Fisheries would announce the recreational season end date annually in the Federal Register.
How to Comment on the Notice of Availability and Proposed Rule:
The comment period for the notice of availability is open now through October 2, 2023. The comment period on the proposed rule is expected to fall within this same timeframe, and comments on both the amendment and proposed rule will be considered in the final rule. You may submit comments by electronic submission (described below) or by postal mail. Comments received after the end of the comment period may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
Federal Register Citation: 88 FR 51255, published August 3, 2023
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0082/.
2. Click the "Comment" icon, complete the required fields.
3. Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are changes to management of South Atlantic golden tilefish being proposed?
- Amendment 52 would modify management of South Atlantic golden tilefish in response to the latest population assessment.
- The results of the latest assessment indicated that the stock is not undergoing overfishing and is not overfished.
Why are changes to the commercial and recreational sector allocations for golden tilefish being considered?
- Sector allocations are based on historical landings.
- Estimates of recreational landings have changed slightly with the incorporation of the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Fishing Effort Survey method, which has replaced the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Coastal Household Telephone Survey.
- Current sector allocations are 97% commercial and 3% recreational. The amendment would decrease the commercial allocation to 96.70% and increase the recreational allocation to 3.3%.
What are the proposed catch levels for the golden tilefish commercial sector?
- The commercial annual catch limits would be 420,645 lbs gw for 2023; 433,216 lbs gw for 2024; 442,886 lbs gw for 2025; and 450,622 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
- The commercial hook-and-line component annual catch limits would be 105,161 lbs gw for 2023; 108,304 lbs gw for 2024; 110,722 lbs gw for 2025; and 112,656 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years. The commercial longline component annual catch limits would be 315,484 lbs gw for 2023; 324,912 lbs gw for 2024; 332,165 lbs gw for 2025; and 337,967 lbs gw for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
- The current component commercial trip limits would remain.
What are the proposed management measures for the golden tilefish recreational sector?
- The recreational annual catch limits would be 2,559 fish for 2023; 2,635 fish for 2024; 2,694 fish for 2025; and 2,741 fish for 2026 and subsequent fishing years.
Why are recreational accountability measures for blueline tilefish and golden tilefish being modified?
- These actions are to prevent recreational landings from exceeding the respective recreational annual catch limits for both golden tilefish and blueline tilefish.
- The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council determined that the revised recreational accountability measures would be more effective at constraining landings to the recreational annual catch limits for blueline tilefish and golden tilefish as the fishing season is considered short for blueline tilefish (May through August each year) and the recreational annual catch limit for golden tilefish is currently only 2,316 fish, and proposed to be 2,559 in 2023.
Why are changes to management of South Atlantic blueline tilefish being proposed?
- Recreational landings exceeded the recreational annual catch limits every year from 2015 through 2020.
- The changes are needed to prevent recreational landings from exceeding the recreational annual catch limits in future years.
Where can I find more information on Amendment 52?
- Amendment 52 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-52-changes-catch-levels-allocations-accountability-measures-and-management/.
- By Mail: Karla Gore
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
By FAX: (727) 824-5308
By Phone: (727) 824-5305
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Permits Mailbox:
The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Media Contact: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
