NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the commercial fishery for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters will open at noon, local time, on August 1, 2005, and will close at noon, local time, on August 10, 2005.
The spring season began at noon, local time, on February 1, with 3.10 million pounds available, and the fall season begins at noon, local time, on October 1, with the remainder of the annual quota available. During the spring and fall seasons, fishing will be allowed the first 10 days of each month until the quota is caught. Preliminary landings data for February 1-10, 2005 (373,093 pounds), March 1-10, 2005 (466,891 pounds), April 1-10, 2005 (344,527 pounds), May 1-10, 2005 (285,019 pounds), June 1-10, 2005 (408,170), and July 1-10, 2005 (144,079) totaled 2,021,779 pounds of red snapper landed. Therefore, a total of 1,078,221 pounds remain in the spring quota. The operator of a vessel with a valid reef fish permit and a Class 1 or Class 2 red snapper
license having red snapper aboard must have landed and sold such red snapper before noon, local time,on August 10, 2005. The minimum size for the commercial fishery is 15 inches total length.
NMFS is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation’s living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management, and enforcement. NMFS provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to customers and recreational opportunities for the American public.
