[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 134 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36093-36094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17100]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 638

[I.D. 062695A]


Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 3

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 minority report; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico for review, 
approval, and implementation by NMFS. Written comments are requested 
from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, 

[[Page 36094]]
9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
    Requests for copies of Amendment 3, which includes a regulatory 
impact review and an environmental assessment, or for copies of the 
minority report on Amendment 3 should be sent to the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council, 5401 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331, 
Tampa, FL 33609-2486, FAX 813-225-7015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 813-570-5305.

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 NMFS for review 
and approval, disapproval, or partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act 
also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an amendment, immediately 
publish a notice that the amendment is available for public review and 
comment. NMFS will consider public comment in determining approvability 
of the amendment.
    Amendment 3 proposes the following measures: Prohibit the taking of 
wild live rock in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) off Florida north and west of the Levy/Dixie County line; remove 
the prohibition on taking wild live rock by chipping between the Pasco/
Hernando County and Levy/Dixie County, FL, lines; establish a 500,000-
lb (226,796-kg) annual quota for 1995 and 1996 in the Gulf EEZ off 
Florida north of Monroe County to the Levy/Dixie County line, which is 
the only area that would remain open to live rock harvesting in the 
Gulf EEZ; and reduce the amount of substrate that may be taken at the 
base of an allowable octocoral in the Gulf EEZ from 3 inches (7.6 cm) 
to 1 inch (2.5 cm).
    A minority report submitted by two Council members objected to the 
proposed prohibition on taking wild live rock in the Gulf EEZ off 
Florida north and west of the Levy/Dixie County line. The report argues 
that Amendment 3 reneges on an earlier Council commitment that provided 
investors greater time to convert their business investments to 
aquaculture.
    Proposed regulations to implement Amendment 3 are scheduled for 
publication within 15 days.

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

    Dated: July 6, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17100 Filed 7-7-95; 4:56 pm]
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