[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47461-47462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24032]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 082698D]
RIN 0648-AK05


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 9

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; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region for 
review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Written comments are 
requested from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
    Requests for copies of Amendment 9, which includes a final 
supplemental environmental impact statement, an initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis, a regulatory impact review, and a social impact/
fishery impact statement, should be sent to the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 
29407-4699; Phone: 843-571-4366; Fax: 843-769-4520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter J. Eldridge, 727-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires each regional 
fishery management council to submit any fishery management plan or 
amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for review and approval, 
disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an amendment, immediately publish a 
document in the Federal Register stating that the amendment is 
available for public review and comment.
    Amendment 9 would: increase the minimum size for red porgy, black 
sea bass, gag, and black grouper for all participants; increase the 
minimum size for vermilion snapper for a person subject to the bag 
limit; establish bag limits for red porgy and black sea bass; during 
March and April, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag 
limit and prohibit purchase and sale of red porgy, gag grouper, and 
black grouper; for greater amberjack, reduce the bag limit, establish a 
commercial quota and trip limit, prohibit sale of greater amberjack 
caught under the bag limit when the commercial fishery is closed, 
prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during 
April, change the beginning of the fishing year to May 1, and prohibit 
coring (removal of the head from the carcass); restrict possession of 
gag and black grouper within the aggregate grouper bag limit; establish 
an aggregate bag limit for all

[[Page 47462]]

snapper-grouper species currently not under a bag limit (excluding 
tomtate and blue runner); require escape vents and escape panels with 
degradable hinges and fasteners in black sea bass pots; and specify 
that a vessel with longline gear on board may only possess certain 
deep-water species of snapper-grouper.
    A proposed rule to implement Amendment 9 has been received from the 
Council. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is 
evaluating the proposed rule to determine whether it is consistent with 
Amendment 9, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. If 
that determination is affirmative, NMFS will publish it in the Federal 
Register for public review and comment.
    Comments received by November 9, 1998 whether specifically directed 
to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered by NMFS in 
its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 9. 
Comments received after that date will not be considered by NMFS in 
this decision. All comments on Amendment 9 or on the proposed rule 
during their respective comment periods will be addressed in the final 
rule.

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

    Dated: September 1, 1998.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24032 Filed 9-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F