For Immediate Release
August 25, 2022
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a framework action to modify red snapper catch limits. The Council chose to decrease the overfishing limit and increase the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, and annual catch targets. The state specific private angling annual catch limits are calculated based on the assumption that the Framework Action to calibrate recreational data and recreational catch limits is approved and implemented by the Secretary of Commerce. The catch limits are expressed in pounds whole weight as follows:
| Catch Limit Type | Current | Newly Recommended |
| Overfishing Limit | 15,500,000 | 18,910,000 |
| Acceptable Biological Catch | 15,100,000 | 16,310,000 |
| Total Annual Catch Limit | 15,100,000 | 16,310,000 |
| Commercial Annual Catch Limit | 7,701,000 | 8,318,100 |
| Recreational Annual Catch Limit | 7,399,000 | 7,991,900 |
| Federal For-Hire Annual Catch Limit | 3,130,000 | 3,380,574 |
| Federal For-Hire Annual Catch Target | 2,848,000 | 3,076,322 |
| Private Angling Annual Catch Limit | 4,269,000 | 4,611,326 |
| Private Angling Annual Catch Target | 3,415,200 | 3,689,061 |
| Florida Private Annual Catch Limit | 1,913,451 | 2,066,889 |
| Alabama Private Annual Catch Limit | 1,122,662 | 1,212,687 |
| Mississippi Private Annual Catch Limit | 151,550 | 163,702 |
| Louisiana Private Annual Catch Limit | 816,233 | 881,686 |
| Texas Private Annual Catch Limit | 265,105 | 286,363 |
These recommendations are based on recommendations from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and new catch advice generated using updated estimates of absolute abundance of red snapper derived from the Great Red Snapper Count (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas) and by LGL Ecological Associates, Inc. (Louisiana).
This Framework Amendment to modify catch limits for red snapper will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation as soon as practicable.