Interim Rule and 2024 South Atlantic Red Snapper Season
Summary
NOAA Fisheries implements this final temporary rule to reduce overfishing of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic. For the 2024 fishing year, this temporary rule reduces the commercial and recreational annual catch limits and revises the authority of the Regional Administrator to change the red snapper recreational season dates under certain adverse weather conditions. This temporary rule also announces the red snapper 2024 commercial and recreational fishing season dates in the South Atlantic. The purpose of this temporary rule is to reduce overfishing of red snapper and to provide notification of the red snapper seasons for 2024.
Announcement of the 2024 Red Snapper Fishing Season:
- Each year, NOAA Fisheries announces the season opening dates for red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic, in addition to the recreational season length. For the 2024 season:
- The commercial sector will open for harvest at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 8, 2024, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2025, unless the commercial catch limit is met or projected to be met before this date.
- The recreational sector will open for harvest on the following day:
- July 12, 2024 (Friday) – The recreational season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 12, 2024, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 13, 2024.
- This date is subject to change if NOAA Fisheries determines a Small Craft Advisory will exist or is projected to exist. Any change in the date of the recreational season will be announced in the Federal Register, Fishery Bulletin, and an announcement via NOAA Weather Radio.