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NOAA Fisheries requests comments on the proposed rule for Regulatory Amendment 33 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

The proposed rule would allow the South Atlantic red snapper fishing season to be less than four days. NOAA Fisheries will announce the 2020 commercial and recreational fishing seasons in a future Federal Register notice and Fishery Bulletin.

Comments on the removal of the minimum season requirement are due by June 15, 2020.

Currently, if NOAA Fisheries projects the commercial and recreational catch limit for red snapper will be caught in three days or less, the commercial and/or recreational seasons would not open for that fishing year.

This proposed rule would remove this minimum season length requirement, and red snapper harvest could be open for either commercial or recreational harvest for three days or less.

The removal of this requirement, if implemented, would improve access to the red snapper resource.

Regulatory Amendment 33 may be found online at fisheries.noaa.gov/action/regulatory-amendment-33-red-snapper-fishing-seasons.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council requested removal of the minimum season length requirement to improve access to red snapper.

Comments may be submitted by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as email), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0017 and click on “Comment Now!,” and complete the process.

Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Information about the amendment can be obtained from Helies by fax at (727) 824-5308 or by phone at (727) 824-5305.

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