[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55358-55359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26891]
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[[Page 55359]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 641
[Docket No. 94113-4354; I.D. 102395D]
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Snapper
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Announcement of a proposed reopening of a fishery.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the closed commercial fishery for red
snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico will
be reopened. Reopening of the fishery is necessary because the 1995
annual commercial quota for red snapper has not been taken. The
commercial fishery for red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico will close
36 hours after the reopening is effective.
DATES: The reopening of the commercial red snapper fishery, to be
announced through publication in the Federal Register, will be
effective for a 36-hour period that will commence at 12:01 a.m., local
time, on a date yet to be determined. Such period will be between
October 29, 1995, and November 4, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler or Michael Justen, 813-
570-5305.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef fish fishery of the Gulf of Mexico
is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery
of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council (Council) and is implemented through
regulations at 50 CFR part 641 under the authority of the Magnuson
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Those
regulations set the commercial quota for red snapper in the Gulf of
Mexico at 3.06 million lb (1.39 million kg) for the current fishing
year, January 1 through December 31, 1995.
Under 50 CFR 641.26, NMFS is required to close the commercial
fishery for a species or species group when the quota for that species
or species group is reached, or is projected to be reached, by
publishing a notification to that effect in the Federal Register. Based
on statistics available at that time, NMFS projected that the
commercial quota for red snapper would be reached on April 14, 1995.
Accordingly, the commercial fishery in the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico
for red snapper was closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, April 15,
1995, through December 31, 1995--the end of the fishing year.
Notification of closure was filed with the Office of the Federal
Register on April 12, 1995 (60 FR 19363, April 18, 1995).
Upon further analysis of the landings data, including new
information that became available since announcement of the closure
date, NMFS has determined that approximately 210,000 lb (95,254 kg) of
the 1995 red snapper commercial quota remain unharvested. Accordingly,
the Council requested that NMFS reopen the fishery.
Catch rates during the first 7 days of the 1995 season averaged
approximately 90,000 lb (40,823 kg) per day. At that catch rate, and
under the restrictions in effect through 1995, the harvest of red
snapper during a 36-hour period would be approximately 135,000 lb
(61,235 kg). The restrictions in effect through 1995 specify that a
vessel with a red snapper endorsement on its reef fish permit may not
land, in any day, red snapper in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg) and other
permitted vessels may not land, in any day, red snapper in excess of
200 lb (91 kg). While a 36-hour reopening of the commercial fishery may
not result in the full commercial quota being harvested, such period
provides reasonable assurance that the commercial quota on the
overfished red snapper resource is not exceeded.
The Council requested that this reopening of the commercial fishery
for red snapper occur around November 1, 1995, with the opening date to
be selected based on projected weather conditions. The Council and NMFS
do not want to create a situation where vessels owners and operators
would feel compelled to fish during marginal weather conditions.
Accordingly, this notification advises fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico
reef fish fishery that the commercial red snapper fishery in the EEZ of
the Gulf of Mexico will be reopened for a period of 36 hours commencing
at 12:01 a.m., local time, at a date to be selected between October 29,
1995, and November 4, 1995. A notification of the date will be filed
with the Office of the Federal Register not less than 48 hours prior to
the effective date of the reopening and notification will be
disseminated via a news release distributed to reef fish dealers, state
enforcement agencies, Sea Grant offices, and other constituents. In
addition, NMFS will request that advance notification of the effective
date and time of the reopening be broadcast by coastal NOAA Weather
Radio stations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 641.26 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Dated: October 25, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26891 Filed 10-25-95; 4:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
