1 Introduction

This report summarizes information for species in the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan that are overfished or overfishing. Each FMP is required to have a stock assessment and fishery evaluation (SAFE) report. This is a draft document to demonstrate what SAFMC SAFE report could look like. SAFE reports should include information useful for determining annual catch limits (ACL); documenting trends or changes in the resource, ecosystem, and fishery; and assessing success of relevant state and federal FMPs. Information included in the report describes stock status, catch level recommendations, projections (when available), landings and releases by sector (where available), social and economic trends by sector, and essential fish habitat. This reports includes information through 2021 for most species.

Data for this report are pulled from multiple sources including:

The SAFMC managed species in this report had an assessment that indicated the stock was overfished, experiencing overfishing, or both or NOAA Fisheries reported to Congress that a stock was overfished or overfishing had occurred. Stock status is provided on both the latest stock assessment, which is updated when a new stock assessment is completed and can be several years old, and NOAA Fisheries Report to Congress, which is updated annually. Overfishing is determined in the report to Congress if landings exceeds the overfishing limit Table 1.1.

Table 1.1: Stock status for seven snapper grouper species based on recent stock assessments and NOAA Fisheries 2022 Quarter 1 Report to Congress
Stock Assessment
NOAA Fisheries
Species SEDAR Terminal Year Overfishing Overfished Report to Congress Overfishing Overfished
Blueline Tilefish 50 2015 No No 2022 Q1 Yes No
Gag 71 2019 Yes Yes 2022 Q1 Yes Yes
FLK/EFL Hogfish 37 2012 Yes Yes 2022 Q1 No Yes
Red Grouper 53 2015 Yes Yes 2022 Q1 No Yes
Red Porgy 60 2017 Yes Yes 2022 Q1 No Yes
Red Snapper 73 2020 Yes Yes 2022 Q1 Yes Yes
Snowy Grouper 36U 2019 Yes Yes 2022 Q1 Yes Yes

Information specific to each of these snapper grouper species is featured below. The information includes:

  • brief description of the species and life history,
  • assessment information,
  • stock status and fishing level recommendations,
  • recent or upcoming management actions,
  • fishery and population trends,
  • sector trends ,
  • economic trends,
  • social trends, and
  • additional information.

If there are any questions on the SAFE report, please send an email with SAFE Report in the subject line.

2 Blueline Tilefish

Historically, Blueline Tilefish, Caulolatilus microps, were patchily distributed along the outer continental shelf of North America from Cape Lookout, NC, to Campeche Bank, Mexico. Blueline Tilefish are now reported as far north as Hudson Canyon off the New England Coast. Adults appear to move little, inhabiting areas along the outer continental shelf, shelf break, and upper slope on irregular bottom. Usual adult habitats include ledges or crevices and around boulders or rubble piles at depths of 160 to 820 ft. Individuals have been observed hovering near or entering burrows under rocks as observed in many other tilefishes (Malacanthids). Blueline Tilefish feed on bottom creatures, such as crabs, shrimp, snails, worms, sea urchins, and small fish.

Blueline Tilefish can live to at least 26 years but the expected maximum age may be closer to 45 years. There is dimorphic growth with males growing larger at age than females, with both sexes reaching over 32 inches. Blueline Tilefish have an extended spawning season from February to November, with a peak March – September. Data suggests they are fully mature by 15 inches.

2.1 Assessment Information

Blueline Tilefish were reported as overfishing in the 2022 Quarter 1 Stock Status Report by NMFS indicating the catch level exceeded the overfishing limit. The 2017 assessment (SEDAR 50) did not indicate the portion of the stock south of Cape Hatteras, NC, was overfished nor experiencing overfishing (Figure 2.1). Due to the lack of information and different fishery dynamics north of Cape Hatteras, the status for that portion of the stock was unable to be determined. Therefore, stock status and assessment figures only describe the portion of the stock south of Cape Hatteras. Acceptable biological catch (ABC) for Blueline Tilefish north of Cape Hatteras was estimated using data-limited methods then added to the ABC for south of Cape Hatteras to calculate the South Atlantic regionwide ABC. Currently, the Council is considering changes to management measures for Blueline Tilefish due to the recreational fishery exceeding their ACL for multiple years.

__A.__ The estimate of __spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Blueline Tilefish south of Cape Hatteras__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 50. Red dots indicate when the population was overfished. The red horizontal line indicates the minimum stock size threshold, below this line the stock is overfished. Note: 2020 and 2021 when landings exceeded the OFL are not plotted on the graph. __B.__ The estimate of __fishing mortality rate (F) of Blueline Tilefish south of Cape Hatteras__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 50. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing. Note: 2020 and 2021 when landings exceeded the OFL are not plotted on the graph.

Figure 2.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Blueline Tilefish south of Cape Hatteras relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 50. Red dots indicate when the population was overfished. The red horizontal line indicates the minimum stock size threshold, below this line the stock is overfished. Note: 2020 and 2021 when landings exceeded the OFL are not plotted on the graph.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Blueline Tilefish south of Cape Hatteras relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 50. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing. Note: 2020 and 2021 when landings exceeded the OFL are not plotted on the graph.

2.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Blueline Tilefish south of Cape Hatteras are provided in the Table 2.1.

Table 2.1: Stock status determination criteria for Blueline Tilefish based on SEDAR 50
Criteria Value
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 1.060
Overfishing Evaluation 0.920
MFMT (FMSY) 0.146
SSBMSY (1000 lbs) 1467.000
MSST (1000 lbs) 1100.000
MSY (1000 lbs) 212.000
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) NA

Fishing level recommendations (lbs) for South Atlantic Blueline Tilefish based on the results of SEDAR 50. The catch level recommendation from 2022 will be used until a new recommendation is provided by the SSC (Table 2.2).

Table 2.2: Fishing level recommendations for Blueline Tilefish from the SSC based on SEDAR 50
Year OFL ABC
2022 328,985 233,698


2.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

Five management actions were developed in three amendments affecting Blueline Tilefish have occurred in the last 6 years (Table 2.3). The Council is developing Amendment 52 aimed at reducing landings of Blueline Tilefish in the recreational sector due to the sector exceeding its ACL. Links to previous amendments are provided in Additional Information section.

Table 2.3: Recent management amendements, implementation date, and management changes for Blueline Tilefish
Date Council Document Management Change
8/12/2016 Reg Amendment 25 Increased ABC, ACL, and OY
8/12/2016 Reg Amendment 25 Increased commercial trip limit
8/12/2016 Reg Amendment 25 Established a recreational bag limit
8/17/2020 Framework Amendment 3 Increased ACL and recreational ACT
2/26/2020 Reg Amend 27 Established a commercial split season for Blueline Tilefish

3 Gag

Gag, Mycteroperca microlepis, is a warm temperate species, from the Yucatan Peninsula throughout the Gulf of Mexico, around the Florida peninsula northward to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Gag are usually found shallower than 375 ft on sponge-coral habitat and rock ledges. Larvae and/or juveniles migrate to specific estuarine seagrass and oyster reef habitats at depths less than 3 ft and leave for shallow coastal shelf reefs in the fall and winter of their first year. They prey on crabs, shrimp, lobster, octopus, squid and fish that live close to reefs.

Gag can grow to over 5 feet in length and live over 30 years. Gag transition from females to male at an age of about 10 years and a length of about 39 inches. Female Gag mature at an age of 3 to 4 years, when they are about 28 to 31 inches long. Spawning occurs from December through May, with a peak between February and April, at which time they may make annual spawning migrations to specific locations where they may form spawning aggregations. Adult spawning aggregations have been reported on shelf edge reefs at depths of 240 to 300 ft.

3.1 Assessment Information

Gag have been overfished since 2008 and overfishing occurred most years from 1984 to 2019 based on the results of SEDAR 71 (Figure 3.1). Rebuilding plans require the population to be rebuilt to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) at maximum sustainable yield (red line in graph A). The Council is developing a rebuilding plan for Gag in Amendment 53 with projections for the stock to rebuild in 10 years.

__A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Gag__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 71. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY. __B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Gag__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 71. Red dots indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

Figure 3.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Gag relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 71. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Gag relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 71. Red dots indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

3.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Gag are provided in the table below based on the results of SEDAR 71 (Table 3.1). Amendment 53 will revise stock status criteria and fishing level recommendations.

Table 3.1: Stock status determination criteria for Gag based on SEDAR 71 (Amendment in development to implement).
Criteria Value
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 0.15
Overfishing Evaluation (F/Fmsy) 2.15
MFMT (FMSY) 0.37
SSBMSY (mt) 1563.90
MSST (mt) 1172.90
MSY (1000 lbs) 1455.10
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) NA

Fishing level recommendations (lbs) based on the results of SEDAR 71 (Table 3.2). OFL and ABC are in pounds gutted weight (gw) and discards are in number of moralities.

Table 3.2: Fishing level recommendations for Gag from the SSC based on SEDAR 71 (Amendment in development to implement).
Year OFL ABC Discard OFL Discard ABC
2023 367,000 176,000 42,000 19,000
2024 494,000 262,000 48,000 22,000
2025 605,000 348,000 54,000 26,000
2026 706,000 435,000 60,000 29,000
2027 808,000 525,000 64,000 32,000

3.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

The Council is developing an amendment for Gag (see Amendment 53 for more information). No other management actions have been developed to target catch or retention of Gag in the last five years (Table 3.3).

Table 3.3: No recent management were directed at Gag.
Date Council Document Management Change

4 Hogfish - Florida Keys/East Coast Florida Stock

Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus, occur in the Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia (Canada) to northern South America, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, although it is most commonly found in the Caribbean. Hogfish are primarily found in warm subtropical and tropical waters. Genetic analysis indicates there are three stocks in U.S. waters, which include the Gulf of Mexico, Florida/Florida Keys, and Carolinas. Hogfish are usually found in loose aggregations around hard-bottom areas, such as coral reefs, rocky ledges and wrecks. They occur at depths of 10 to 98 ft over open bottom or coral reef; however, hogfish have occasionally been captured in monitoring programs at depths ranging from 75 to 174 ft and have been observed during submersible dives off South Carolina at depths of 171 ft.

Maximum reported size is 36 inches in length (male) and 22 lbs. Maximum reported age varies by region in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is 23 years and 13 years in the Florida Keys. Hogfish form haremic spawning aggregations, with males setting up territories that can include multiple females (10 to 15 females). Hogfish change from female to male. Off the Florida Keys, spawning occurs from September to April with a February and March peak. Off the southern coast of NC, spawning occurs from April through July.

4.1 Assessment Information

The Florida Keys/East Florida (FK/EFL) stock of Hogfish were designated as overfished and experiencing overfishing based on the results of SEDAR 37 assessment (Figure 4.1). FK/EFL stock of Hogfish are expected to be rebuilt by 2026 based on the rebuilding plan.

__A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Hogfish__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 37. The red line at 1 indicates the rebuilding target. __B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Hogfish__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 37. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

Figure 4.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Hogfish relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 37. The red line at 1 indicates the rebuilding target.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Hogfish relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 37. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

4.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Florida Keys/East Coast of Florida Hogfish are provided in Table 4.1 based on the results of SEDAR 37. Values were reported in Table 2.2.1 in Amendment 37.

Table 4.1: Stock status determination criteria for Hogfish based on SEDAR 37.
Criteria Value
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 0.466
Overfishing Evaluation (F/Fmsy) 1.593
MFMT (FMSY) 0.138
SSBMSY (males and females, metric tons) 1043.440
MSST (males and females, metric tons) 856.664
MSY (1000 lbs) 156.986
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) NA

Fishing level recommendations (Numbers of fish) based on the results of SEDAR 37 including OFL, ABC, Discard OFL, and Discard ABC (Numbers) (Table 4.2).

Table 4.2: Fishing level recommendations for FK/EFL Hogfish from the SSC based on revised projection for SEDAR 37 included in Amendment 37 (Appendix K)
Year OFL ABC Discard OFL Discard ABC
2022 67,119 39,027 NA 664
2023 73,662 44,162 NA 751
2024 79,808 49,254 NA 806


4.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

Hogfish were split into different management stocks based on genetic differences along the Atlantic Coast. The Florida Key/East Florida stock of Hogfish were added to the Snapper Grouper Complex in Amendment 37 along with actions to rebuild the overfished stock and end overfishing (Table 4.3).
Table 4.3: Recent management amendements, implementation date, and management changes for FK/EFL Hogfish.
Date Council Document Management Change
8/24/2017 Amendment 37 Establish Florida Keys/East Florida stock
8/24/2017 Amendment 37 Created MSY, MSST, ABC, ACL, ACT
8/24/2017 Amendment 37 Establish a rebuilding plan
8/24/2017 Amendment 37 Develop allocations
8/24/2017 Amendment 37 Increase minimum size limit
8/24/2017 Amendment 37 Establish commercial trip limit

5 Red Grouper

Red Grouper, Epinephelus morio, are associated with reef habitat, especially the adults, in the Western Atlantic from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico and south to Brazil, with a disjunct distribution off the Atlantic coast. They are commonly caught off North Carolina, northern South Carolina and southern Florida but are rare from southern South Carolina to northern Florida. Red Grouper are reported to occur at depths of 80 - 400 ft. Red Grouper inhabits ledges, crevices, and caverns of rocky limestone reefs, and also lower-profile, live-bottom areas. They are also known to be important ecosystem engineers due to their creation of large depressions in the sea floor which become habitat for various species.

Red grouper can live to over 25 years, with older fish reaching a size of 33 inches in length and 25 lbs. Red grouper transition from female to male at an age of about 8 years and a length of about 28 inches. Female Red Grouper mature at an age of about 3 years, when they are about 20 inches in length. Red Grouper spawning season is from February through June, with a peak in April.

5.1 Assessment Information

Red Grouper were overfished and experiencing overfishing in most years based on the results of the SEDAR 53 assessment (Figure 5.1). Thus Red Grouper required a rebuilding plans, and the population must be rebuilt to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) at maximum sustainable yield (red line in graph A). The Council developed a rebuilding plan for Red Grouper in Regulatory Amendment 30 with projections for the stock to rebuild in 10 years.

__A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Red Grouper__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 53. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY. __B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Red Grouper__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 53. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

Figure 5.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Red Grouper relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 53. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Red Grouper relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 53. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

5.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Red Grouper are provided in Table 5.1 based on the results of SEDAR 53.

Table 5.1: Stock status determination criteria for Red Grouper based on SEDAR 53
Criteria Value
Rebuilding evaluation (SSB/SSBMSY) 0.29
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 0.38
Overfishing Evaluation (F/Fmsy) 1.54
MFMT (FMSY) 0.12
SSBMSY (1000 lbs) 7018.00
MSST (1000 lbs 75% SSBMSY) 5264.00
MSY (1000 lbs) 794.30
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) 772.00

Fishing level recommendations (lbs) based on the results of SEDAR 53 (Table 5.2). OFL and ABC are in pounds and discards are in number of moralities.

Table 5.2: Fishing level recommendations (lbs wt) for Red Grouper from the SSC based on SEDAR 53 included in the SSC Report October 2017.
Year OFL ABC Discard OFL Discard ABC
2022 202,000 162,000 42,000 32,000
2023 202,000 162,000 42,000 32,000
2024 202,000 162,000 42,000 32,000


5.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

Recent changes that have occurred in the last 5 years included a reduction in the ACL, revising the rebuilding plan, decrease in the commercial trip limit, and a longer spawning season off North and South Carolina (Table 5.3).
Table 5.3: Recent management amendements, implementation date, and management changes for Red Grouper
Date Council Document Management Change
8/17/2018 Abbreviated Framework 1 Adjustment to ACL
3/9/2020 Reg Amendment 30 Revised the rebuilding plan
3/9/2020 Reg Amendment 30 Reduced commercial trip limits
3/9/2020 Reg Amendment 30 Extended spawning season closure in NC and SC

6 Red Porgy

Red Porgy, Pagrus pagrus, are distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. In the western Atlantic, they range from New York, U.S., the Caribbean Sea, and through the Gulf of Mexico to Argentina. Red Porgy inhabit reefs on the middle to outer continental shelf and shelf-break out to 920 ft in depth, but commonly found between 30 and 260 ft. They are found over rock, rubble, or sand bottom, with young frequently found on seagrass beds and the continental shelf.

Notable plasticity in the growth as well as reproductive parameters, such as size and age at female maturity and size and age at transition, has been documented. The oldest reported age is 25 years with sizes upwards of 20 inches. Red Porgy reach minimum size limit (14 inches TL) at approximately 4 years old. Red Porgy begin maturing at age 1 and 10-inches total length. Red Porgy are protogynous (change from female to male) winter spawners (November to May), with the peak spawning season in November through March.

6.1 Assessment Information

Red Porgy have been overfished since 1984 and overfishing occurred most years from 1980 to 2017 (Figure 6.1). Rebuilding plans require the population to be rebuilt to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) at maximum sustainable yield (red line in graph A). The expected rebuilding target year is 2046 in Amendment 50. Despite being a rebuilding plan since 1999, Red Porgy have not rebuilt and overfishing has occurred in most years since.

__A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Red Porgy__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 60. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY. __B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Red Porgy__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 60. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

Figure 6.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Red Porgy relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 60. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Red Porgy relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 60. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

6.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Red Porgy are provided in Table 6.1.

Table 6.1: Stock status determination criteria for Red Porgy based on SEDAR 60. Values will be implemented through Amendment 50.
Criteria Value
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 0.271
Overfishing Evaluation (F/Fmsy) 1.730
MFMT (FMSY) 0.180
SSBMSY (mt) 2883.700
MSST (mt) 2162.800
MSY (1000 lbs) 531.400
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) 515.700

Fishing level recommendations (lbs) based on the results of SEDAR 60 (Table 6.2).

Table 6.2: Fishing level recommendations for Red Porgy from the SSC based on SEDAR 60. Values will be implemented through Amendment 50.
Year OFL ABC Discard OFL Discard ABC
2021 103,000 78,000 24,000 18,000
2022 106,000 84,000 25,000 19,000
2023 109,000 88,000 25,000 20,000
2024 112,000 92,000 25,000 20,000
2025 114,000 96,000 26,000 21,000
2026 116,000 98,000 26,000 21,000

6.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

One management change that occurred in the last 5 years for Red Porgy was the development of a commercial split season through Regulatory Amendment 27. The Council recently approved Amendment 50 for Red Porgy and includes several actions to rebuild Red Porgy (Table 6.3). The amendment is currently being reviewed by NMFS. A link to Amendment 50 is provided in Additional Information.
Table 6.3: Recent and upcoming management amendements, implementation date, and management changes for Red Porgy.
Date Council Document Management Change
2/26/2020 Reg Amendment 27 Created commercial split season
On Going Amendment 50 Establish a rebuilding plan
On Going Amendment 50 Reduced the ACL
On Going Amendment 50 Revise allocations
On Going Amendment 50 Reduced commercial trip limits
On Going Amendment 50 Reduced recreational bag limits and season
On Going Amendment 50 Modify accountability measures

7 Red Snapper

Red Snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, is distributed in warm-temperate waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico south to the Yucatan Peninsula and in United States Atlantic waters north to North Carolina. Adult Red Snapper are associated with structured habitats such as coral reefs, wrecks, artificial reefs, rocky outcroppings, and live-bottom habitats in relatively shallow waters (typically <250 ft) in the Atlantic waters off the southeastern U.S. Juveniles occur in shallow waters over sandy or muddy bottom.

Red Snapper reach a maximum length of about 40 inches and maximum reported age over 50 years. They spawn April through October in the Atlantic, with a peak June through September. They begin to mature under 2 years of age for males and females. Females reach larger sizes than males.

7.1 Assessment Information

Red Snapper have been overfished since 1982 and overfishing occurred almost all years from 1982 to 2019 based on the results of SEDAR 73 (Figure 7.1A and B). Rebuilding plans require the population to rebuilt to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) at maximum sustainable yield. The rebuilding target year is 2046. The population has shown dramatic recovery over the past decade and the number of fish in the population is close the number of fish at MSY. Unfortunately, most of the Red Snapper are less than 3 years old see SEDAR 73 Figure 14.

__A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Red Snapper__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 73. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY. __B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Red Snapper__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 73. Red points indicate overfishing was occuring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

Figure 7.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Red Snapper relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 73. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Red Snapper relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 73. Red points indicate overfishing was occuring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

7.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Red Snapper are provided in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1: Stock status determination criteria for Red Snapper based on SEDAR 73. Values will be implemented through Regulatory Amendment 35.
Criteria Value
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 0.44
Overfishing Evaluation (F/Fmsy) 2.20
MFMT (FMSY) 0.21
SSBMSY (eggs 1E8) 635,426.40
MSST (eggs 1E8) 476,569.80
MSY (1000 lbs) 404.70
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) 398.97

Fishing level recommendations (lbs ww) based on the results of SEDAR 73 (Table 7.2).

Table 7.2: Fishing level recommendations for Red Snapper from the SSC based on SEDAR 73. Values will be implemented through Regulatory Amendment 35.
Year OFL ABC Discard OFL Discard ABC
2022 284,000 284,000 983,000 983,000
2023 327,000 327,000 1,036,000 1,036,000
2024 368,000 368,000 1,076,000 1,076,000
2025 408,000 408,000 1,104,000 1,104,000
2026 446,000 446,000 1,122,000 1,122,000


7.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

The Council changed the process to develop the ACL for Red Snapper and allowed the recreational sector to be opened if the projected season would be less than three days (Table 7.3). The Council is in the process of changing regulations for Red Snapper through Regulatory Amendment 35. Links to past amendments can be found in Additional Information section.
Table 7.3: Recent management amendements, implementation date, and management changes for Red Snapper.
Date Council Document Management Change
11/13/2020 Reg Amend 33 Allows recreational Red Snapper season to occur if projected to be less than 3 days
7/26/2018 Amendment 43 Established the process and ACL created in Emergency Action
11/2/2017 Emergency Action Revise process to determine ACL and set to 42,510 fish

7.7 Social Trend

One social trend for Red Snapper is fishing opportunity which has been reduced since 2010 due to limited catch levels and short or no seasons.The short seasons or absence of a fishing season for red snapper in recent years has been highly controversial with negative effects on recreational anglers, for-hire businesses, retail businesses, and commercial vessels. The short seasons have led to distrust in science and management due to inconsistency in what fishermen see on the water versus the scientific models.

Table 7.4 shows the number of days the recreational season was open and dates for commercial closures (season opens 2nd Monday in July) from 2016 to 2021.

When completing a Fishery Performance Report for Red Snapper in September 2020 the Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel discussed dependence on the fishery and a charter captain from southern South Carolina recounted that “it (dependence) crested early on, back in 2010.” He recalled catering to a lot of tournament fishermen, especially when the recession hit in 2008 and 2009 and people were getting rid of “those go-fast boats.” He stated that word of the impending Red Snapper closure hurt the charter business in his area. It was the norm, he recalled, to run out and catch a handful of snapper and then move on and go catch something else. When that was eliminated, it was devastating to both the tackle shops and to the charter businesses. Nowadays, ten years later, Red Snapper are “not even mentioned, other than they’re in the way.” He indicated that charters can no longer count on catching Black Sea Bass anymore (they catch fifteen or twenty snappers instead) and customers – who often come from out of state for events held at the base on Parris Island – get frustrated, and that continues to affect the charter and tackle businesses.

A commercial fisherman from northeast Florida reiterated that the initial closure on the harvest of Red Snapper and subsequent short seasons have been devastating to the coastal communities that depend on reef fish. He recounted that Red Snapper once was “our bread-and-butter for our entire life, and then it was taken away, and so it’s been devastating, not only for the commercial side of it and the consumer access, but also your charter boats, your private recreational, industries that are associated with all of this.”

Table 7.4: Recreational season length and commercial ACL closure date from 2016 to 2021. *Indicates the federal season was not open and no date indicates the sector did not harvest its ACL.
Year Recreational Season Length (Days) Commercial Closure Date
2016 * *
2017 6
2018 6 17-Nov
2019 5 30-Aug
2020 4 5-Sep
2021 3 14-Sep

8 Snowy Grouper

Snowy Grouper, Hyporthodus niveatus, is a large deepwater reef-associated species. Snowy Grouper occur in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil, including Bermuda, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico. Within the Atlantic waters off the southeastern U.S., Snowy Grouper can be found on the outer continental shelf and upper slope at depths greater than 150 feet in habitats characterized by ridges, terraces and precipitous cliffs; or on wrecks and artificial reefs. Snowy Grouper is a bottom fish that ambushes bottom-dwelling prey. The most common diet items are deepwater crabs, but finfish are eaten also.

Snowy Grouper is relatively long-lived and may reach a maximum age of 56 (South Atlantic) to 80 (Gulf of Mexico) years and a weight of 70 lbs. Snowy Grouper begin to transition from female to male at age 10 when they are about three feet long. Female Snowy grouper mature at an age of 5 to 6 years, when they are about 24 inches in length. The spawning season is from January through October, with a peak in May to August.

8.1 Assessment Information

Snowy Grouper were overfished and experiencing overfishing in most years based on the results of the SEDAR 36 2020 Update assessment (Figure 8.1). Snowy Grouper have been in a rebuilding plan since 2006, and the population must be rebuilt to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) at maximum sustainable yield (red line in graph A). The population is expected to be rebuilt by 2042.

__A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Snowy Groupr__ relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 36 2020 Update. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY. __B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Snowy Grouper__ relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 36 2020 Update. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

Figure 8.1: A. The estimate of spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Snowy Groupr relative to the SSB at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from SEDAR 36 2020 Update. Red points indicate when the population was overfished indicating the population is below the minimum stock size threshold. The red horizontal line indicates the rebuilding target, MSY.
B. The estimate of fishing mortality rate (F) of Snowy Grouper relative to the F at MSY from SEDAR 36 2020 Update. Red points indicate overfishing was occurring in that year. The red horizontal line indicates overfishing, above this line the stock is experiencing overfishing.

8.2 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations

Values to evaluate the stock status of Snowy Grouper are provided in Table 8.1 based on the results of SEDAR 36 2020 Update.

Table 8.1: Stock status determination criteria for Snowy Grouper based on SEDAR 36 Update. Values will be implemented through Amendment 51.
Criteria Value
Overfished Evaluation (SSB/SSBMSST) 0.48
Overfishing Evaluation (F/Fmsy) 1.13
MFMT (FMSY) 0.09
SSBMSY (mt) 1908.00
MSST (mt) 1430.80
MSY (1000 lbs) 532.00
Y at 75% FMSY (1000 lbs) 518.50

Fishing level recommendations (lbs gw) based on the results of SEDAR 36 2020 Update including OFL, ABC, Discard OFL, and Discard ABC (lbs gw) (Table 8.2).

Table 8.2: Fishing level recommendations for Snowy Grouper from the SSC based on SEDAR 36 Update. Values will be implemented through Amendment 51.
Year OFL ABC Discard OFL Discard ABC
2023 156,844 119,954 7,563 5,470
2024 156,035 121,272 7,524 5,847
2025 155,227 122,889 7,485 5,925
2026 151,993 122,889 7,329 5,925


8.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes

Recent management change was the creationa of a commercial split season in Regulatory Amendment 27. New management actions are being developed as part of Amendment 51.
Table 8.3: Recent management amendement, implementation date, and management change for Snowy Grouper.
Date Council Document Management Change
2/26/2020 Reg Amendment 27 Created commercial split season