[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52045-52046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26383]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 970730185-7206-02; I.D. 093097A]


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.

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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 
October 6, 1997. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper 
resource.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Closure is effective noon, local time, October 6, 1997, 
through December 31, 1997.

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 under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. Those regulations set the 
commercial quota for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico at 4.65 million 
lb (m lb) (2.11 million kg (m kg)) for the current fishing year, 
January 1 through December 31, 1997. The 1997 commercial quota was 
split between two seasons, the first beginning on February 1 with a 
quota of 3.06 m lb (1.39 m kg) and the second beginning with an initial 
period of September 2 to September 15 and thereafter from the first to 
the 15th of each month until the annual commercial quota is reached. 
Openings and closings in the fall 1997 season are at noon on the date 
indicated.
    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 
publishing notification to that effect in the Federal Register. Based 
on current statistics, NMFS has projected

[[Page 52046]]

that the annual commercial quota of 4.65 m lb (2.34 m kg) for red 
snapper will be reached on October 6, 1997. Accordingly, the commercial 
fishery in the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper is closed 
effective noon, local time, October 6, 1997, through December 31, 1997. 
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 noon, 
local time, October 6, 1997.
    During the closure, the bag limit applies to all harvest of red 
snapper in or from the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico. The daily bag limit 
for red snapper is five per person. From noon, local time, October 6, 
1997, through December 31, 1997, 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 noon, local time, October 6, 1997, 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: September 30, 1997.
     
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-26383 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F