[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68854-68855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30608]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 112103E]
RIN 0648-AR66


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Continuation of the Madison/
Swanson and Steamboat Lumps Marine Reserves

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of Amendment 21 to the reef fish 
resources of the Gulf of Mexico; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 21 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico for review, 
approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 21 would continue the 
marine reserves at Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps for an 
additional 6 years and revise the fishing restrictions that apply 
within the reserves. The intended effects of Amendment 21 are to 
provide protection for spawning aggregations of gag grouper in order to 
prevent overfishing, continue protection of a portion of the offshore 
population of male gag grouper, and evaluate the effect and usefulness 
of marine reserves as a management tool.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be mailed to Phil Steele, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, 
FL 33702. Comments may also be sent via fax to 727-522-5583. Comments 
will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet.
    Copies of Amendment 21, which includes an environmental assessment 
(EA), a supplemental regulatory impact review (RIR) and initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), and a copy of a minority report 
filed by three Council members opposing provisions in the amendment 
that allow seasonal surface trolling within the reserves, may be 
obtained from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, The 
Commons at Rivergate, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, 
FL 33619-2266; phone: 813-228-2815; fax: 813-833-1844; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Steele, telephone: 727-570-5305; 
fax: 727-570-5583; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), as amended by the 
Sustainable Fisheries Act, requires each Regional Fishery Management 
Council to submit any fishery management plan or amendment to NMFS for 
review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-
Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving a plan or 
amendment, immediately publish a document in the Federal Register 
stating that the plan or amendment is available for public review and 
comment.
    The Council has submitted Amendment 21 to the subject FMP to NMFS, 
for Secretarial review. The amendment proposes to: (1) extend the 
marine reserves at Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps for an 
additional 6 years; (2) allow surface trolling in the marine reserves 
during May through October; (3) prohibit all fishing and possession of 
all fish species in the marine reserves during November through April 
except for vessels transiting the marine reserves in accordance with 
the same requirements as those proposed for the Tortugas South and 
North closed fishing areas (Reef Fish Amendment 19); and (4) prohibit 
the possession of reef fish within the reserves except for vessels 
transiting the reserves in accordance with the same requirements as 
proposed for the Tortugas South and North closed fishing areas (Reef 
Fish Amendment 19). Additionally, the Council will send a letter to the 
Highly Migratory Species Division of NMFS requesting that they 
implement regulations compatible with the proposals in this amendment 
for species under their jurisdiction.
    A proposed rule that would implement measures outlined in the 
amendment has been prepared. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, NMFS is evaluating the proposed rule to determine whether it is 
consistent with Amendment 21, the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 
other applicable law. If that determination is affirmative, NMFS will 
publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register for public review and 
comment.

[[Page 68855]]

    Comments received by February 9, 2004, whether specifically 
directed to the FMP or the proposed rule, will be considered by NMFS in 
its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 21. 
Comments received after that date will not be considered by NMFS in 
this decision. All comments received by NMFS on Amendment 21 or 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 4, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30608 Filed 12-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S