[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58327-58328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29090]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D.102698A]


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 
determined that the annual commercial quota for red snapper was reached 
on October 15, 1998. This closure is necessary to protect the red 
snapper resource.

DATES: Closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, November 1, 1998, 
until noon, local time, February 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler, 727-570-5305.

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

[[Page 58328]]

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, 1998. 
Those regulations split the red snapper commercial fishing season into 
two time periods, the first commencing at noon on February 1 with two-
thirds of the annual quota (3.06 million lb (1.39 million kg)) 
available, and the second commencing at noon on September 1 with the 
remainder of the annual quota available. During the commercial season, 
the red snapper commercial fishery opens at noon on the first of each 
month and closes at noon on the 15th of each month, until the 
applicable commercial quotas are reached.
    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 
a notification to that effect in the Federal Register. Based on current 
statistics, NMFS has determined that the annual commercial quota of 
4.65 million lb (2.11 million kg) for red snapper was reached on 
October 15, 1998. The commercial red snapper fishery was closed on 
October 15, 1998, at noon and was scheduled to reopen on November 1, 
1998. However, because NMFS has determined that the commercial red 
snapper quota was reached on October 15, the commercial red snapper 
fishery will not reopen on November 1; it will remain closed until noon 
on February 1, 1999.
    During the closure, the bag and possession limits specified in 50 
CFR 622.39(b) apply to all harvest or possession of red snapper in or 
from the EEZ in the Gulf of Mexico, and the sale or purchase of red 
snapper taken from the EEZ is prohibited. In addition, the bag and 
possession limits for red snapper apply on board a vessel for which a 
commercial permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, without regard to 
where such red snapper were harvested. However, when the recreational 
quota for red snapper has been reached and the bag and possession limit 
has been reduced to zero, such possession during a closed period is 
prohibited. The recreational red snapper fishery was closed on 
September 30, 1998 (63 FR 45760).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.
    Dated: October 26, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-29090 Filed 10-27-98; 1:58 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F