[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33603]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 120998C]
RIN 0648-AK31


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 16A

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 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 16A to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for 
review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Written comments are 
requested from the public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 16, 
1999.
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 16A, which includes an 
environmental assessment, a regulatory impact review, and an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, should be sent to the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, 
Tampa, FL 33619-2266, Phone: 813-228-2815; Fax: 813-225-7015.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef fish fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
is managed under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and is 
implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 622.
    Amendment 16A would prohibit the use of fish traps in the exclusive 
economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico south of 25 deg.03' N. lat. after 
February 7, 2001; prohibit possession of reef fish exhibiting trap rash 
on board a vessel that does not have a valid fish trap endorsement; and 
require fish trap vessel owners or operators to provide trip initiation 
and trip termination reports and to comply with a vessel/gear 
inspection requirement. In addition, Amendment 16A proposes that NMFS 
develop a system design, protocol, and implementation schedule for a 
fish trap vessel monitoring system.

Availability of and Comments on Amendment 16A

    NMFS has prepared a proposed rule to implement Amendment 16A. In 
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is evaluating the 
proposed rule and may publish it in the Federal Register for public 
review and comment.
    Comments received by February 16, 1999, whether specifically 
directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered in 
the approval/disapproval decision on Amendment 16A. Comments received 
after that date will not be considered in the approval/disapproval 
decision. All comments received on Amendment 16A 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: December 15, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-33603 Filed 12-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F