Once again at their December 2018 meeting, the SAFMC has postponed
any remedial action to alleviate negative, socio-economic impacts with regard
to the commercial harvest of yellowtail snapper, over 95% of which takes place
in the Florida Keys. The Council has deferred action until the next SEDAR stock
assessment is complete sometime in 2020. Six years have passed since we first
asked the Council to provide some effort of relief and examine allocations
between the recreational (1.5 MP) and commercial (1.6 MP) sectors with the
recreational side fishing less than half of their allocation over the last 10
years. With the stock assessment only being completed in 2020, it will
take another year or longer to implement an amendment to provide any changes
and that is provided the Council takes any positive steps to correct this
imbalance. The Council’s lack of action is most disturbing and fails to
comply with provisions in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Article 4, regarding Allocation.
Capt. Bill Kelly, Executive Director
Council Posting: Yellowtail Snapper – Regulatory Amendment 32
Council members
voted to postpone consideration of Regulatory Amendment 32 that would revise
accountability measures for yellowtail snapper with the intent to alleviate
socio-economic impacts of in-season closures in the fishery. After considering
recommendations from the Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and public comment, the
Council will delay further development of measures until a benchmark stock assessment
for yellowtail snapper is completed in 2020.
