INTERIM MEASURES FINALIZED FOR GULF OF MEXICO RED SNAPPER AND SHRIMP FISHERIES
Small Entity Compliance Guide NOAA Fisheries Service’s final rule implementing 
interim measures in the Gulf of Mexico red snapper and shrimp fisheries will 
publish on April 2, 2007.

These interim measures are intended to temporarily address overfishing of red 
snapper in 2007 while the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf 
Council) develops additional, long-term measures to end overfishing and rebuild 
the red snapper stock. 

In summary, the interim measures will: Reduce the commercial red snapper minimum 
size limit from 15 inches to 13 inches total length (effective April 2, 2007); 
Establish a goal to reduce red snapper bycatch mortality in the shrimp fishery 
to 50 percent of the bycatch mortality that occurred during 2001-2003 (effective 
May 2, 2007); Reduce the total allowable catch quota (TAC) of red snapper from 
9.12 million pounds (mp) to 6.5 mp, resulting in a commercial red snapper quota 
of 3.315 mp and a recreational red snapper quota of 3.185 mp (effective May 2, 
2007); Reduce the recreational red snapper bag limit from four fish to two fish 
per person per day (effective May 2, 2007); and Prohibit the captain and crew of 
for-hire vessels from retaining the recreational bag limi (effective May 2, 
2007).

PLEASE NOTE: The recreational red snapper fishery will open at 12:01 a.m. on 
April 21, 2007, which is 11 days before the interim measures for the 
recreational red snapper fishery take effect. Consequently, the red snapper bag 
limit will remain at four fish per person per day and will be available to  he 
captain and crew of for-hire vessels for the first 11 days of the recreational 
fishing season.

However, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on May 2, 2007, recreational fishermen will be 
limited to two red snapper per person per day and the captain and crew of 
for-hire vessels will be prohibited from retaining the red snapper bag limit. 
The commercial red snapper fishery opened on January 1, 2007, under an 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, but received only 2.55 mp of the 3.315 
mp commercial red snapper quota specified by these interim measures for the 2007 
fishing year.

NOAA Fisheries Service will issue the balance of the 2007 commercial red snapper 
quota to the commercial red snapper fishery after the 2007 TAC becomes effective 
on May 2, 2007, and no later than July 1, 2007. The final rule implementing the 
commercial red snapper IFQ program describes how the balance of the commercial 
red snapper quota will be allocated among IFQ participants. A copy of that rule 
can be obtained through the contact described above, or online at:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/RedSnapper/ifqprogram.htm

All interim measures implemented through this final rule will expire at 12:01 
a.m. on September 30, 2007, unless extended on an interim basis for one 
additional 186-day period or replaced by measures implemented through another 
rule.

National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue 
South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Southeast Fishery Bulletin NOAA Fisheries 
Service prepared a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and a Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) that augments the findings of the final rule’s RIR. 
The FRFA is available from the Sustainable Fisheries Division of NOAA Fisheries 
Service’s Southeast Regional Office at 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, 
Florida 33701.

Written copies of the final rule implementing these interim measures also may be 
obtained from NOAA Fisheries Service’s Southeast Regional Office at 263 13th 
Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. Electronic copies of the final 
rule, once published, may be obtained from the Federal Register Web site at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

MANAGEMENT NEW INTERIM MEASURE ACTION CURRENT MEASURE
(STATUS QUO) EFFECTIVE APRIL 2, 2007

EFFECTIVE MAY 2, 2007
Reduce commercial red snapper minimum size limit 15” total length 13” total 
length Establish red snapper bycatch mortality reduction goal for shrimp fishery 
50% of the bycatch mortality that occurred during 2001-2003.

Reduce red snapper total allowable catch 9.12 mp (4.65 mp commercial; 4.47 
recreational) 6.5 mp (3.315 commercial/3.185 recreational)

Reduce recreational red snapper bag limit 4 fish/person/day (also applies to 
captain & crew of for-hire vessels) 2 fish/person/day (0 fish/person/day for 
captain & crew of for-hire vessels)