Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region

The EIS will evaluate a range of alternative options for setting and managing red snapper catches at levels that end overfishing and support rebuilding objectives. NMFS will also explore management strategies that increase fishing opportunities for red snapper by transitioning the large number of dead recreational discards to landed catch. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council was notified of the overfishing status of red snapper on July 23, 2021, and to date, has not taken actions to end overfishing. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) also provides the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) authority to act if a Council fails to develop and submit to the Secretary, after a reasonable period of time, needed conservation and management measures for a species. The goal is to finalize the Secretarial Amendment and environmental impact statement, as well as implement regulations, before the recreational and commercial fishing seasons open in summer 2025.