GULF OF MEXICO RED SNAPPER QUOTA INCREASES AND JUNE 1 THROUGH JULY 23 RECREATIONAL SEASON

NOAA Fisheries Service has published a final rule implementing increases in the commercial and recreational quotas of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. A recent red snapper assessment update projected overfishing ended in 2009, and therefore, the total allowable catch (TAC) can be increased. As evaluated in a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico, this increase would be from the existing 5.0 million pounds (MP) to 6.945 MP. The rule adjusts the commercial and recreational quotas to 3.542 and 3.403 MP, respectively, consistent with the 51:49 ratio for the commercial and recreational allocation of red snapper. The final rule publishes in the Federal Register on May 3, 2010, and will become effective June 2, 2010.

The final rule also sets the length of 2010 recreational season, which opens 12:01 a.m., June 1, and closes at 12:01 a.m. on July 24. In determining the season length supported by the 2010 quota, factors such as the increases in the average red snapper size, abundance, and catch rates were taken into account. Absent action to increase the current 5.0 MP TAC, analyses indicate the fishery would remain open just 27-34 days in 2010 to avoid exceeding the quota. However, the 3.403 MP recreational quota is estimated to support a 53-dayfishing season in 2010. The closure date is defined as July 23. For more information on how the red snapper season length was calculated, refer to a document titled “2010 Recreational Red Snapper Quota Closure Analysis” located on the Southeast Regional Office’s Web page (see below).

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This bulletin provides only a summary of the information about the rule. Discrepancies between this bulletin and the rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.
Copies of the final rule are available by contacting NOAA Fisheries Service’s Southeast Regional Office at 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. The final rule can be obtained in electronic form from the Federal Register Web site: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html (use advanced search for final rules using “AY57” as a keyword).