PANAMA CITY — The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to increase the 2015 catch quota for Gulf red snapper by 3.3 million pounds during a webinar meeting Tuesday.
The move brings the total quota for 2015 to 14.3 million pounds, which will be give 7.26 million pounds to the commercial sector and 7.04 million pounds to the recreational sector. The annual catch target for the recreational sector is 5.632 million pounds.
The council’s action is subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service will also determine the length of the 2014 red snapper season in the coming weeks.