Fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico are one step closer to getting the go-ahead to catch more red snapper.
Last week during its four-day meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council approved a plan to increase the catch limit by nearly 10 percent. Starting next year, the limit will be 15.1 million pounds, up from the current 13.7 million. The new limit would be in place at least through the 2021 season.
Under the FMC’s plan, the commercial fishery would be allowed up to 7.7 million pounds annually, up from the 7 million pounds they can harvest this year.
The increase comes after NOAA Fisheries officials removed the red snapper stock from its overfished list. According to the agency, the biomass tripled in size over a 10-year period from 2005 to 2015.
The council also approved increasing the recreational limit from 6.7 million to 7.4 million pounds starting next year and the catch target from 5.4 million to 5.9 million pounds. The catch target figure is used to set recreational fishing season dates and decrease the chance of overfishing.
Additionally, the FMC agreed to set the charter catch target at 9 percent below its annual catch limit and maintain the 20 percent threshold for private anglers. That works out to a 3.4 million pound target for anglers and a 2.5 million pound target for charters.
Both the catch limit increases and the recreational targets require the approval of U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Council members also discussed the possibility of reallocating the catch limit between both the commercial and recreational sectors and within the charter and private angler factions of the recreational fishery. The FMC chose to continue discussions on this subject at its October meeting, giving staff members time to analyze the issue.
Lastly, the council reviewed draft plans for creating state managed recreational programs. More discussion on the subject will take place in October 2018 and public hearings will take place in Gulf states at a later date.
