Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2014 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Vermilion Snapper

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial landings for vermilion snapper, as estimated by the Science Research Director (SRD), are projected to reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the January 1 through June 30, 2014, fishing period on April 19, 2014. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on April 19, 2014, and it will remain closed until the start of the July 1 through December 31, 2014, fishing period. This closure is necessary to protect the vermilion snapper resource.