[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10043]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 641

[I.D. 041994B]

 

Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico

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 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for review 
by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Written comments are 
requested from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 17, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments must mailed to the Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 
9721 Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
    Requests for copies of Amendment 9, which includes a regulatory 
impact review and an environmental assessment, should be sent to the 
Council, 5401 W. Kennedy Boulevard, suite 331, Tampa, FL 33609-2486, 
FAX 813-225-7015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler, 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 9 proposes to:
    (1) Authorize the collection of historical red snapper landings 
data needed to evaluate red snapper effort management alternatives and 
to identify individuals who may qualify for initial participation in a 
red snapper effort management regime; and
    (2) Extend the current moratorium on reef fish permits and the red 
snapper endorsement system, including its associated trip and landing 
limits, through December 31, 1995, unless replaced earlier by a red 
snapper effort management system. Red snapper commercial landings data 
for 1990, 1991, and 1992 would be collected from vessel owners or from 
operators of permitted vessels for which the permit was based on the 
earned income qualification of an operator. Data would also be 
collected to identify ``historical captains'' in the red snapper 
fishery and to obtain information on their landings of red snapper and 
their share arrangements with vessel owners.
    Proposed regulations to implement Amendment 9 are scheduled for 
publication within 15 days.

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

    Dated: April 21, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-10043 Filed 4-21-94; 4:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P