[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57623-57624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27963]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 101499D]
RIN 0648-AK05


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

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a resubmitted measure in 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 resubmitted a previously disapproved measure 
contained in Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 9). The 
resubmitted measure would establish a 1,000-lb (454-kg) commercial trip 
limit for greater amberjack. Written comments are requested from the 
public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 27, 
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 9, which contains the proposed 
greater amberjack trip limit, a final supplemental environmental impact

[[Page 57624]]

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. Requests for NMFS' economic analysis should be sent to 
Peter J. Eldridge.

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 a fishery management plan (FMP) or 
FMP amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for review, approval, and 
implementation. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon 
receiving an FMP or FMP amendment, immediately publish a document in 
the Federal Register stating that the FMP or FMP amendment is available 
for public review and comment.
    Under Amendment 9, the Council proposed management measures to 
ensure that greater amberjack did not approach an overfished condition. 
One proposed measure was the establishment of a 1,000-lb (454-kg) daily 
commercial trip limit for greater amberjack. On December 9, 1998, after 
conducting Secretarial review of Amendment 9, NMFS disapproved the 
proposed 1,000-lb (454-kg) commercial trip limit for greater amberjack 
because the scientific information and analysis of socioeconomic 
impacts at that time indicated that the trip limit would not provide 
benefits that would exceed costs.
    NMFS' economic analysis based on more recent information indicates 
that the trip limit may result in net benefits exceeding costs, 
especially if a ``derby'' fishery is prevented. Accordingly, the 
Council has resubmitted the proposed 1,000-lb (454-kg) commercial trip 
limit for greater amberjack, as contained in Amendment 9, to NMFS for 
review, approval, and implementation.
    NMFS has also received a proposed rule to implement the trip limit 
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.
    NMFS will consider comments received by December 27, 1999, whether 
specifically directed to the resubmitted measure in Amendment 9 or the 
proposed rule, in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially 
approve the resubmitted measure in Amendment 9. NMFS will not consider 
comments received after that date in this decision. NMFS will address 
all comments received during the comment periods on the resubmitted 
measure in Amendment 9 or on the proposed rule in the preamble of the 
final rule.

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

    Dated: October 20, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27963 Filed 10-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F