97-25556. Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 15

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25556]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 091997B]
RIN 0648-AJ17


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 15

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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for 
review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Written comments are 
requested from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 25, 
1997.

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 15, which includes an 
environmental assessment, a regulatory impact review, and an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, and for copies of a minority report 
submitted by two members of the Council, should be sent to the Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 
1000, Tampa, FL 33619-2266, Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler, 813-570-5305.

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 15 would: Replace the current system of commercial red 
snapper permit endorsements and trip limits with a system of two 
classes of transferrable commercial red snapper licenses and associated 
trip limits; starting in 1998, split the red snapper commercial fishing 
season into two time periods, the first commencing February 1 with two-
thirds of the annual quota available and the second commencing on 
September 1 with the remainder of the annual quota available; open the 
red snapper commercial fishery at noon on the first of each month and 
close it at noon on the 15th of each month during the commercial 
season; prohibit the possession of reef fish in excess of the bag limit 
on a vessel that has on board, or is tending, a trap other than a fish, 
stone crab, or spiny lobster trap; increase the minimum size limit for 
vermilion snapper; close the commercial fishery for greater amberjack 
each year during the period March through May; remove sea bass, grunts, 
and porgies from management under the FMP; and remove certain species 
from the aggregate bag limit for reef fish.
    A proposed rule to implement Amendment 15 has been received from 
the Council. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is 
evaluating the proposed rule and may publish it in the Federal Register 
for public review and comment.
    Comments received by November 25, 1997, whether specifically 
directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered in 
the approval/disapproval decision on Amendment 15. Comments received 
after that date will not be considered in the approval/disapproval 
decision. All comments received on Amendment 15 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 22, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25556 Filed 9-23-97; 1:25 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F