Federal Fishery Managers Respond to Scientific Committee Recommendations - Scientific and Statistical Committee reviews stock assessments for mackerel, vermilion snapper
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council received confirmation from its Scientific and Statistical Committee that recent stock assessments for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and vermilion snapper are based on the best available science. The Council made subsequent decisions regarding management of these species as it concluded its week-long meeting in Wilmington, NC. The assessments, conducted through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment process, concluded that king mackerel stocks are not overfished while the overfished status of Spanish mackerel is unknown. Overfishing is not occurring for Spanish mackerel, and although the assessment results were inconclusive for determining overfishing for king mackerel, if overfishing is occurring, it is minimal. The Council concluded that no immediate management measures were necessary for the two stocks.
A recently completed age-based stock assessment for vermilion snapper shows the stock is not overfished but continues to experience overfishing at levels lower than indicated in an earlier length-based assessment. Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, approved by the Council in September and currently under review by NOAA Fisheries, allows for adjustments to the reductions in harvest of vermilion snapper necessary to end overfishing during the review process. The new assessment will result in the Total Allowable Catch being increased from an original 566,179 pounds to 960,350 pounds (gutted weight). The larger TAC will allow for an increase of the originally proposed recreational bag limit from 4 to 5 fish, and reduce the length of a recreational closure for the fishery by two months, resulting in a November through March closure. The change in TAC also allows for an increase in the commercial quota. Upon final approval by the Secretary