What/When:
The commercial longline component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 8, 2024. The closure applies to all harvest or possession of golden tilefish with longline fishing gear.
Why This Closure is Happening:
- Only golden tilefish longline endorsement holders are allowed to harvest golden tilefish with longline fishing gear.
- Amendment 52 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region modified management of golden tilefish in federal waters, including revising the commercial catch limits. The final rule also changed the start date for the fishing season for the golden tilefish commercial longline component from January 1 to January 15.
- The 2024 commercial catch limit for the golden tilefish longline component is 324,912 pounds gutted weight. NOAA Fisheries predicts this catch limit will be reached by June 8, 2024, and according to the accountability measure, harvest must close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.
During and After the Closure:
- Golden tilefish harvested with longline fishing gear may not be sold or purchased after the closure. The prohibition on sale or purchase during the closure does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 8, 2024, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
- During the longline closure, a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement may not commercially harvest golden tilefish using hook-and-line fishing gear, and is limited to the golden tilefish recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open, without regard to where the golden tilefish was harvested (i.e., in state or federal waters). On March 1, 2024, recreational harvest of golden tilefish closed in the South Atlantic for the rest of 2024. Therefore, during the commercial longline closure and for the rest of 2024, all harvest or possession of golden tilefish is prohibited by a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement, without regard to where the golden tilefish was harvested (i.e., in state or federal waters).
- A vessel that does not have a longline endorsement, but has a commercial South Atlantic snapper-grouper unlimited permit, may commercially harvest golden tilefish with hook-and-line fishing gear until the hook-and-line catch limit is reached.
- The commercial longline component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 15, 2025.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-I/.
Sign Up for Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, FL now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
