94-2639. Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2639]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 646

[I.D.]

 

Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic

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 and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council has submitted Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic for review by the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Written comments are requested from 
the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 31, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, 9450 Koger Boulevard, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
    Requests for copies of Amendment 6, which includes a regulatory 
impact review/initial regulatory flexibility analysis and an 
environmental assessment, should be sent to the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 1 Southpark Circle, suite 306, Charleston, SC 
29407-4699; FAX [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter J. Eldridge, 813-893-3161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act) requires that a council-prepared 
amendment to a fishery management plan be submitted to the Secretary 
for review and approval, disapproval, or partial disapproval. The 
Magnuson Act also requires that the Secretary, upon receiving an 
amendment, immediately publish a notice that the amendment is available 
for public review and comment. The Secretary will consider public 
comment in determining approvability of the amendment.
    Amendment 6 proposes to: (1) Establish quotas and trip limits for 
snowy grouper and golden tilefish--quotas would be reduced in equal 
amounts in each of 3 years beginning with 1994; (2) impose a trip limit 
of one warsaw grouper and one speckled hind per vessel and prohibit 
sale of these species; (3) include tilefish species in the current 
grouper bag limit; (4) require that vessel logbooks be submitted by all 
permitted vessels; and (5) close the Oculina Bank habitat area of 
particular concern to fishing for snapper-grouper species and prohibit 
fishing while anchored in that area.
    Proposed regulations to implement Amendment 6 are scheduled for 
publication within 15 days.

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

    Dated: February 1, 1994.
Joe P. Clem,
Chief, Plans and Regulations Division, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-2639 Filed 2-1-94; 4:35 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M