FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: January 10, 2008

Susan Gerhart or Susan.Gerhart@NOAA.gov FB08-004

727/824-5305, FAX 727/824-5308

Southeast Fishery Bulletin

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service reminds fishermen of the seasonal closure for gag, red grouper, and black grouper February 15 through March 14, 2008, and the seasonal closure for greater amberjack March 1 through May 31, 2008. The possession, sale, or purchase of these species harvested from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Gulf of Mexico is prohibited. No person may possess these species in the Gulf of Mexico EEZ regardless of where harvested.

The operator of a vessel with a valid federal commercial Gulf reef fish permit having gag, red grouper, or black grouper aboard must have landed or sold those fish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, February 15, 2008. The fisheries for these species will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 15, 2007.

This prohibition on the sale/purchase does not apply to gag, red grouper, or black grouper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to February 15 and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

Additionally, during the closure the recreational bag and possession limits of gag, red grouper, and black grouper are zero. This restriction also applies to persons aboard a vessel fishing as a charter vessel/headboat.

The operator of a vessel with a valid federal commercial Gulf reef fish permit having greater amberjack aboard must have landed or sold those fish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, March 1. The fisheries for these species will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2008.

This prohibition on the sale/purchase does not apply to greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to March 1 and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

If you have any suggestions on how we may improve future fishery bulletins, please contact:

Kim Amendola, Communication Specialist

Phone: 727-551-5707; FAX: 727-824-5320

If you would like to receive these fishery bulletins via e-mail as soon as they are published, please e-mail us at the address below. You will still receive a hard copy of these bulletins through the mail.

E-mail: SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov and include: (1) "Request for Electronic Fishery Bulletins" in the subject line; and (2) your preferred e-mail address in the body of the e-mail.