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

[Federal Register: September 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 173)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 47461-47462]

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

[DOCID:fr08se98-32]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 082698D]

RIN 0648-AK05

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

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

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Written comments are requested from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 9, 1998.

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 includes a final supplemental environmental impact 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.

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 any fishery management plan or amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an amendment, immediately publish a document in the Federal Register stating that the amendment is available for public review and comment.

Amendment 9 would: increase the minimum size for red porgy, black sea bass, gag, and black grouper for all participants; increase the minimum size for vermilion snapper for a person subject to the bag limit; establish bag limits for red porgy and black sea bass; during March and April, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit and prohibit purchase and sale of red porgy, gag grouper, and black grouper; for greater amberjack, reduce the bag limit, establish a commercial quota and trip limit, prohibit sale of greater amberjack caught under the bag limit when the commercial fishery is closed, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during April, change the beginning of the fishing year to May 1, and prohibit coring (removal of the head from the carcass); restrict possession of gag and black grouper within the aggregate grouper bag limit; establish an aggregate bag limit for all

[[Page 47462]]

snapper-grouper species currently not under a bag limit (excluding tomtate and blue runner); require escape vents and escape panels with degradable hinges and fasteners in black sea bass pots; and specify that a vessel with longline gear on board may only possess certain deep-water species of snapper-grouper.

A proposed rule to implement Amendment 9 has been received 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.

Comments received by November 9, 1998 whether specifically directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered by NMFS in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 9. Comments received after that date will not be considered by NMFS in this decision. All comments on Amendment 9 or on the proposed rule during their respective comment periods will be addressed in the final rule.

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

Dated: September 1, 1998. Bruce Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-24032Filed9-4-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F