70 FR 65 pg. 17401 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 24
Type: PRORULEVolume: 70Number: 65Page: 17401
Docket number: [I.D. 033105A]
FR document: [FR Doc. 05-6842 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[I.D. 033105A]
RIN 0648-AS69
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 24
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of availability; request forcomments.
SUMMARY:
NMFS announces the availability of Amendment 24to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of theGulf of Mexico (Amendment 24) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico FisheryManagement Council (Council). Amendment 24 would establish a limited accesssystem for the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery. The intendedeffect of Amendment 24 is to support the Council's efforts to achieveoptimum yield in the fishery, and provide social and economic benefitsassociated with maintaining stability in the fishery.
DATES:
Written comments must be received no later than5 p.m., eastern time, on June 6, 2005.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments by any of thefollowing methods:
• E-mail: 0648-AS69.NOA@noaa.gov .Include in the subject line the following document identifier:0648-AS69-NOA.
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions forsubmitting comments.
• Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 26313th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
• Fax: 727-824-5308, Attention: Peter Hood.
Copies of Amendment 24, which includes an Environmental Assessment, aRegulatory Impact Review, and an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis,are available from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018North U.S. Highway 301, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619-2272; email: gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Hood,727-824-5305; fax 727-824-5308; e-mail: peter.hood@noaa.gov .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A moratorium on theissuance of new commercial reef fish permits was established in 1992 underAmendment 4 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (April 8, 1992; 57 FR11914). The moratorium was designed to provide a stable environment in thefishery for the evaluation and development of a more comprehensive,controlled access system for the entire commercial reef fish fishery. Themoratorium was subsequently extended through 1995 (Amendment 9) (August 2,1994; 59 FR 39301) and to December 31, 2000 (Amendment 11) (December 15,1995; 60 FR 674350), to provide additional time for consideration ofimplementing a limited access system in the reef fish fishery. During thisperiod, the Council developed an individual transferable quota (ITQ) systemfor red snapper (Amendment 8); however, before it could be implemented,Congress prohibited the implementation of ITQ systems until October 1,2000. Subsequently, the Council developed and NMFS implemented a licenselimitation system for red snapper (Amendment 15) (62 FR 67714). Amendment17 was implemented by NMFS on August 10, 2000 (65 FR 41016), and extendedthe commercial reef fish permit moratorium for another 5 years, from itsprevious expiration date of December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2005, oruntil replaced with a license limitation, limited access, and/or individualfishing quota or individual transferable quota system.
Amendment 24, if implemented, would establish a limited access systemfor the commercial fishery for reef fish. The intended effect would be toprevent increases in effort, to possibly reduce the number of permittees inthe reef fish fishery, and to stabilize the economic performance of currentparticipants, while protecting reef fish species from overfishing. Theexisting restricted number of fishery participants in the Gulf of Mexicohas demonstrated the capability of harvesting their total allowable catchwell in advance of the end of the various fishing seasons. Allowing thefishery to revert to open access would probably hasten these closures. Theproposed limited access system would maintain the existing restrictedaccess to the fishery for an indefinite period, with the intent to providecontinued social and economic stability to the reef fish fishery.
A proposed rule that would implement the measure outlined in Amendment24 has been received from the Council. In accordance with theMagnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-StevensAct), NMFS is evaluating the Council's proposed rule to determine whetherit is consistent with the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and otherapplicable law. If that determination is affirmative, NMFS will publish theproposed rule in the Federal Register for public review andcomment.
Comments received by June 6, 2005, whether specifically directed to the Amendment 24 or the proposed rule, will be considered by NMFS in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 24. Comments received after that date will not be considered by NMFS in this decision. All comments received by NMFS on the amendment or the proposed rule during their respective comment periods will be addressed in a final rule.
Authority:
16 U.S.C. 1801 etseq.
Dated: April 1, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National MarineFisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6842 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
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