Rule Change Should Allow Charter Captains to Keep Snapper and Grouper

Last December, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) voted to change a rule that prevented charter boat captains and crew from keeping snapper and grouper caught on their vessels. That change goes into effect on Monday, January 27, 2014, allowing captains and crew to keep snapper and grouper according to recreational regulations.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will likely amend state laws during their meeting on February 12 and 13, 2014 in Tampa to coincide with the new federal standards. Multi-agency guidelines and agreements strive to align regulations between various levels of management, both federal and state. Thus, the FWC vote is expected to pass without difficulty.

One of the notable ramifications of this rule change is the confirmation that charter boat captains and crew are understood to be recreational fishermen, not commercial fishermen.