Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Regulatory Amendment 37
Key claim: NOAA Fisheries is proposing new management rules for black sea bass in South Atlantic federal waters to quickly slow the species’ decline while a fuller stock assessment is finished.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS seeks public comment on proposed regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 37 under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (FMP). If implemented by NMFS, Regulatory Amendment 37 and this proposed rule would revise several management measures for black sea bass in South Atlantic Federal waters. The purpose of these proposed regulatory changes is to immediately address declining abundance and landings of black sea bass while stock assessment updates are completed and separate longer-term actions are developed.
Why this matters
Black sea bass is a staple of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper complex for both commercial and recreational fishermen, and interim restrictions ahead of a full stock assessment signal regulator concern about stock health. Tighter catch measures typically reduce landings and dockside supply in the near term, which can tighten availability and raise prices for consumers of this species while a longer-term rebuilding plan is developed.