Publice Notice: Proposed Amendments to Regulations, April 2007

NOTICE

Proposed Regulation of Tilefish and Grouper

On April 24, 2007, the Marine Resources Commission will consider proposals establishing conservation measures for tilefish and groupers. Proposed regulations will include:

1) A staff proposal that would establish a maximum recreational possession limit of ten fish per person per day for tilefish, and one fish per person per day for grouper, and a maximum commercial possession limit of 300 pounds per vessel per day for tilefish and 175 pounds per vessel per day for grouper. No transfers at sea shall be allowed.

2) A recommendation by the Finfish Management Advisory Committee to establish a maximum recreational possession limit of twelve fish per person per day for tilefish, and three fish per person per day for grouper, and a maximum commercial possession limit of 300 pounds per person per day for tilefish and 175 pounds per person per day for grouper, with no more than two licensed fisherman harvesting per vessel commercially.

3) Possession limits similar to those currently administered by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council that are more restrictive than those proposed above, as follows:
Five (5) groupers per person include:
*Black, *Gag, Misty, Red, Scamp, ***Snowy, **Speckled Hind, Tiger, **Warsaw, Yellowedge, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth Groupers, and also includes Blueline Tilefish, ***Golden Tilefish, Sand Tilefish, Coney, Graysby, Red & Rock Hind.
* No more than 2 may be gag or black grouper, individually or in combination
** 1 per vessel per trip. May not be sold or traded; no transfer at sea
*** No more than 1 fish may be snowy grouper
*** No more than 1 fish may be golden tilefish

Goliath Grouper - Closed to harvest or possession
Nassau Grouper - Closed to harvest or possession
Wreckfish - Only ITQ shareholders or their designees may harvest or possess wreckfish

MORE LINKS:
http://www.mafmc.org/mid-atlantic/fmp/tilefish-orig.htm

http://www.mafmc.org/mid-atlantic/press/20..._2007-04-26.pdf

http://mrc.virginia.gov/FMAC/fmac_draft_minutes_01-16-07.pdf