[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