Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Regulatory Amendment 14

NMFS issues regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) (Regulatory Amendment 14), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This rule changes the fishing years for greater amberjack and black sea bass, revises the commercial trip limits for gag grouper (gag) and black sea bass, and revises the recreational accountability measures (AMs) for black sea bass and vermilion snapper. The purpose of Regulatory Amendment 14 and this rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) and enhance socio-economic opportunities within the snapper- grouper fishery in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).