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The Gulf Council’s Reef Fish Management Committee will meet in a special session January 7-8, 2013, at the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore (Address: 2225 North Lois Avenue) in Tampa, Florida. The Committee will discuss a proposed framework action to address the 2013 commercial and recreational red snapper quotas and a possible bag limit reduction.
This framework action is under consideration because of an estimated 1.6 million pound overharvest of recreational red snapper in 2012.
The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) met November 8, 2012, to review the recreational quota overage and, based on the results of the analysis, the SSC determined that the 2013 acceptable biological catch (ABC) can still be increased, but at a lower level than scheduled. Any change in the ABC requires a framework action to adjust the fishery management plan based on the new ABC.
This framework action will contain alternatives for commercial and recreational quotas and recreational bag limits. The Council also asked staff to also include an option that considers a one-fish recreational red snapper bag limit as a way to extend the season length.
The Committee will also discuss:
• Red snapper allocation
• Red snapper IFQ 5-year review
• Recreational red snapper regional management issues
Click here to see the meeting agenda. This meeting is open to the public.
Recommendations made during this special meeting will be presented to the full Council during its February 5 - 8, 2013 meeting in Mobile, Alabama.
