[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10462]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 641

[Docket No. 909268-9277; I.D. 042694B]

 

Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the commercial fishery for red snapper in the 
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. NMFS has projected 
that the annual commercial quota for red snapper will be reached on 
April 27, 1994. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper 
resource.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, April 28, 
1994, through December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler, 813-893-3161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef fish fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf 
of Mexico Fishery Management Council and is implemented through 
regulations at 50 CFR part 641 under the authority of the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Those 
regulations set the commercial quota for red snapper in the Gulf of 
Mexico at 3.06 million lbs (1.39 million kg) for the current fishing 
year, January 1 through December 31, 1994 (50 CFR 641.25(a)).
    Under 50 CFR 641.26, NMFS is required to close the commercial 
fishery for a species or species group when the quota for that species 
or species group is reached, or is projected to be reached, by 
publishing a document in the Federal Register. Based on current 
statistics, NMFS has projected that the commercial quota of 3.06 
million lbs (1.39 million kg) for red snapper will be reached on April 
27, 1994. Accordingly, the commercial fishery in the EEZ in the Gulf of 
Mexico for red snapper is closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, 
April 28, 1994, through December 31, 1994, the end of the fishing year. 
A vessel with a valid reef fish permit having red snapper aboard must 
land and barter, trade, or sell such red snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., 
local time, April 28, 1994.
    During the closure, the bag limit applies to all harvests of red 
snapper from the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico. The daily bag limit for red 
snapper is seven per person. From 12:01 a.m., local time, April 28, 
1994, through December 31, 1994, the purchase, barter, trade, or sale 
of red snapper taken from the EEZ is prohibited. This prohibition does 
not apply to trade in red snapper that were harvested, landed, and 
bartered, traded, or sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, April 28, 
1994, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 641.26 and has been determined to 
be ``not significant'' for purposes of E.O. 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 641

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 26, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-10462 Filed 4-26-94; 4:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P