A federal stock assessment update completed in 2012 showed that vermilion snapper are not overfished or undergoing overfishing. As a result, the November through March recreational closed season in Atlantic federal waters has been eliminated (formerly 50 C.F.R. § 622.183 (b)(4); amended 78 FR 47574, August 6, 2013). The rule amendment would eliminate the annual November through March recreational season closure for vermilion snapper in Atlantic state waters. The purpose of this rule is to achieve consistency between the Commission’s vermilion snapper regulations in state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and regulations in Atlantic federal waters. The effect of this rule amendment is that federal and state vermilion snapper regulations can be applied consistently off Florida’s east coast. Consistent regulations in state waters would eliminate confusion when fishing for snappers in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida and provide more recreational opportunities for anglers from November to March. 68B-14.0038 (Recreational Snapper Seasons) would be amended to eliminate language providing a closed season for recreational vermilion snapper harvest in state waters of the Atlantic Ocean during the months of November through March.