[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 52715] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-25789] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 960807218-6244-02; I.D. 100296E] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Closure of the Commercial Red Snapper Component AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 October 6, 1996. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource. EFFECTIVE DATE: Closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 1996, through December 31, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler, 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 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 622 under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Those regulations set the commercial quota for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico at 4.65 million lb (2.11 million kg) for the current fishing year, January 1 through December 31, 1996. Under 50 CFR 622.43(a), 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 filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. Based on current statistics, NMFS has projected that the commercial quota of 4.65 million lb (2.11 million kg) for red snapper will be reached on October 6, 1996. Accordingly, the commercial fishery in the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper is closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 1996, through December 31, 1996, the end of the fishing year. The operator of a vessel with a valid reef fish permit having red snapper on board must land and sell such red snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 1996. During the closure, the bag limit applies to all harvest of red snapper from the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico. The daily bag limit for red snapper is five per person. From 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 1996, through December 31, 1996, the sale or purchase of red snapper taken from the EEZ is prohibited. This prohibition does not apply to sale or purchase of red snapper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 1996, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. Classification This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 2, 1996. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 96-25789 Filed 10-3-96; 4:20 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F