[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3046 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3046

  To direct the Secretary of Commerce to study the South Atlantic red 
    snapper fishery and to limit the authority of the Secretary to 
 promulgate any interim rules for the fishery, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 25, 2010

  Mr. Nelson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read 
     twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                             Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Commerce to study the South Atlantic red 
    snapper fishery and to limit the authority of the Secretary to 
 promulgate any interim rules for the fishery, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``South Atlantic Red Snapper Fishery 
Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. SOUTH ATLANTIC RED SNAPPER FISHERY.

    (a) Stock Assessment.--
            (1) Requirement.--The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a 
        benchmark stock assessment of the South Atlantic red snapper 
        fishery that shall include fishery independent data.
            (2) Report to congress.--The Secretary of Commerce shall 
        submit to Congress a report on the findings of the assessment 
        required by paragraph (1).
    (b) Limitation on Interim Rules To Close Fishery.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce may not 
        promulgate any interim rule under section 305(c) of the 
        Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
        U.S.C. 1855(c)) or any final rule that prohibits fishing in the 
        South Atlantic red snapper fishery--
                    (A) prior to the date the Secretary submits to 
                Congress the report required by subsection (a)(2); and
                    (B) unless such report demonstrates the need for 
                any such an interim or final rule.
            (2) Existing interim rules.--Any interim rule promulgated 
        under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
        Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(c)) that 
        prohibits fishing in the South Atlantic red snapper fishery 
        that was promulgated prior to the date of the enactment of this 
        Act shall have no force or effect.
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