The bill would prevent the Secretary of Commerce from issuing certain rules or amendments that close areas or the ocean bottom in the South Atlantic for species covered by the regional snapper-grouper management plan. The restriction would last until the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count study is complete and its data are included in the first South Atlantic red snapper stock assessment conducted after the bill’s enactment.
If you fish in the South Atlantic, certain area or bottom closures could not be issued under the covered plan until both study conditions are met. The bill does not change other fishing rules described in the text.
The bill does not specify new expenses or provide funding. It states that $8.7 million was invested in independent survey data over three fiscal years, including $3.3 million for the red snapper count study.
The bill’s findings say survey data should be added to stock assessments to better inform fishery decisions. They also note concerns about the economic effects of area closures on recreational fishing.
No publicly available information.