[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55358-55359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26891]



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[[Page 55359]]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 641

[Docket No. 94113-4354; I.D. 102395D]


Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Snapper

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

ACTION: Announcement of a proposed reopening of a fishery.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the closed commercial fishery for red 
snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico will 
be reopened. Reopening of the fishery is necessary because the 1995 
annual commercial quota for red snapper has not been taken. The 
commercial fishery for red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico will close 
36 hours after the reopening is effective.

DATES: The reopening of the commercial red snapper fishery, to be 
announced through publication in the Federal Register, will be 
effective for a 36-hour period that will commence at 12:01 a.m., local 
time, on a date yet to be determined. Such period will be between 
October 29, 1995, and November 4, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler or Michael Justen, 813-
570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef fish fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery 
of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council (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 lb (1.39 million kg) for the current fishing 
year, January 1 through December 31, 1995.
    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 notification to that effect in the Federal Register. Based 
on statistics available at that time, NMFS projected that the 
commercial quota for red snapper would be reached on April 14, 1995. 
Accordingly, the commercial fishery in the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico 
for red snapper was closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, April 15, 
1995, through December 31, 1995--the end of the fishing year. 
Notification of closure was filed with the Office of the Federal 
Register on April 12, 1995 (60 FR 19363, April 18, 1995).
    Upon further analysis of the landings data, including new 
information that became available since announcement of the closure 
date, NMFS has determined that approximately 210,000 lb (95,254 kg) of 
the 1995 red snapper commercial quota remain unharvested. Accordingly, 
the Council requested that NMFS reopen the fishery.
    Catch rates during the first 7 days of the 1995 season averaged 
approximately 90,000 lb (40,823 kg) per day. At that catch rate, and 
under the restrictions in effect through 1995, the harvest of red 
snapper during a 36-hour period would be approximately 135,000 lb 
(61,235 kg). The restrictions in effect through 1995 specify that a 
vessel with a red snapper endorsement on its reef fish permit may not 
land, in any day, red snapper in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg) and other 
permitted vessels may not land, in any day, red snapper in excess of 
200 lb (91 kg). While a 36-hour reopening of the commercial fishery may 
not result in the full commercial quota being harvested, such period 
provides reasonable assurance that the commercial quota on the 
overfished red snapper resource is not exceeded.
    The Council requested that this reopening of the commercial fishery 
for red snapper occur around November 1, 1995, with the opening date to 
be selected based on projected weather conditions. The Council and NMFS 
do not want to create a situation where vessels owners and operators 
would feel compelled to fish during marginal weather conditions. 
Accordingly, this notification advises fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico 
reef fish fishery that the commercial red snapper fishery in the EEZ of 
the Gulf of Mexico will be reopened for a period of 36 hours commencing 
at 12:01 a.m., local time, at a date to be selected between October 29, 
1995, and November 4, 1995. A notification of the date will be filed 
with the Office of the Federal Register not less than 48 hours prior to 
the effective date of the reopening and notification will be 
disseminated via a news release distributed to reef fish dealers, state 
enforcement agencies, Sea Grant offices, and other constituents. In 
addition, NMFS will request that advance notification of the effective 
date and time of the reopening be broadcast by coastal NOAA Weather 
Radio stations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 641.26 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Dated: October 25, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26891 Filed 10-25-95; 4:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F