Fishery conservation and management: Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic fisheries— grouper,

[Federal Register: October 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 206)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 57623-57624]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr26oc99-36]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 101499D]

RIN 0648-AK05

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States; Resubmission of a Disapproved Measure in Amendment 9

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a resubmitted measure in an amendment to a fishery management plan; request for comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has resubmitted a previously disapproved measure contained in Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 9). The resubmitted measure would establish a 1,000-lb (454-kg) commercial trip limit for greater amberjack. Written comments are requested from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 27, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

Requests for copies of Amendment 9, which contains the proposed greater amberjack trip limit, a final supplemental environmental impact

[[Page 57624]]

statement, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis, a regulatory impact review, and a social impact/fishery impact statement, should be sent to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; Phone: 843-571-4366; Fax: 843-769-4520. Requests for NMFS' economic analysis should be sent to Peter J. Eldridge.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter J. Eldridge, 727-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires each Regional Fishery Management Council to submit a fishery management plan (FMP) or FMP amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for review, approval, and implementation. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or FMP amendment, immediately publish a document in the Federal Register stating that the FMP or FMP amendment is available for public review and comment.

Under Amendment 9, the Council proposed management measures to ensure that greater amberjack did not approach an overfished condition. One proposed measure was the establishment of a 1,000-lb (454-kg) daily commercial trip limit for greater amberjack. On December 9, 1998, after conducting Secretarial review of Amendment 9, NMFS disapproved the proposed 1,000-lb (454-kg) commercial trip limit for greater amberjack because the scientific information and analysis of socioeconomic impacts at that time indicated that the trip limit would not provide benefits that would exceed costs.

NMFS' economic analysis based on more recent information indicates that the trip limit may result in net benefits exceeding costs, especially if a ``derby'' fishery is prevented. Accordingly, the Council has resubmitted the proposed 1,000-lb (454-kg) commercial trip limit for greater amberjack, as contained in Amendment 9, to NMFS for review, approval, and implementation.

NMFS has also received a proposed rule to implement the trip limit from the Council. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is evaluating the proposed rule to determine whether it is consistent with Amendment 9, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. If that determination is affirmative, NMFS will publish it in the Federal Register for public review and comment.

NMFS will consider comments received by December 27, 1999, whether specifically directed to the resubmitted measure in Amendment 9 or the proposed rule, in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the resubmitted measure in Amendment 9. NMFS will not consider comments received after that date in this decision. NMFS will address all comments received during the comment periods on the resubmitted measure in Amendment 9 or on the proposed rule in the preamble of the final rule.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: October 20, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-27963Filed10-25-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F