[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 134 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36093-36094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17100]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 638
[I.D. 062695A]
Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 3
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 minority report; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management
Plan for Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico for review,
approval, and implementation by NMFS. Written comments are requested
from the public.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 21, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional Office,
NMFS,
[[Page 36094]]
9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
Requests for copies of Amendment 3, which includes a regulatory
impact review and an environmental assessment, or for copies of the
minority report on Amendment 3 should be sent to the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 5401 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331,
Tampa, FL 33609-2486, FAX 813-225-7015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 813-570-5305.
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 NMFS for review
and approval, disapproval, or partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act
also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an amendment, immediately
publish a notice that the amendment is available for public review and
comment. NMFS will consider public comment in determining approvability
of the amendment.
Amendment 3 proposes the following measures: Prohibit the taking of
wild live rock in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) off Florida north and west of the Levy/Dixie County line; remove
the prohibition on taking wild live rock by chipping between the Pasco/
Hernando County and Levy/Dixie County, FL, lines; establish a 500,000-
lb (226,796-kg) annual quota for 1995 and 1996 in the Gulf EEZ off
Florida north of Monroe County to the Levy/Dixie County line, which is
the only area that would remain open to live rock harvesting in the
Gulf EEZ; and reduce the amount of substrate that may be taken at the
base of an allowable octocoral in the Gulf EEZ from 3 inches (7.6 cm)
to 1 inch (2.5 cm).
A minority report submitted by two Council members objected to the
proposed prohibition on taking wild live rock in the Gulf EEZ off
Florida north and west of the Levy/Dixie County line. The report argues
that Amendment 3 reneges on an earlier Council commitment that provided
investors greater time to convert their business investments to
aquaculture.
Proposed regulations to implement Amendment 3 are scheduled for
publication within 15 days.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 6, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17100 Filed 7-7-95; 4:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
