A possible four-month grouper closure in federal Atlantic Ocean waters returns in the latest version of snapper-grouper rules proposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service. “We got a reprieve in December when the NMFS abandoned the closure as an interim rule,” said Islamorada charter captain Bill Kelly, “but the [proposed permanent rule] is exactly the [...]

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Appeal to U.S. commerce chief falls on deaf ears… A final decision on a pending ban on grouper fishing is not expected before early December — but a Key West charter captain said the chances of relief seem bleak. Andy Griffiths, who spoke directly with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez on a conference call [...]

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