[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8831-8832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2403]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 021306C]
RIN 0648-AS70


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Limited Access 
Program for Gulf Charter Vessels and Headboats

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

[[Page 8832]]


ACTION: Announcement of availability of fishery management plan 
amendments; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of Amendment 17 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources of 
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (Amendment 17) and Amendment 25 
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resource of the Gulf 
of Mexico (Amendment 25), prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council). Amendments 17 and 25 would establish a 
limited access system for the Gulf of Mexico charter vessel/headboat 
(for-hire) permits for the reef fish and CMP fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico and would continue to cap 
participation at current levels. The intended effect of Amendments 17 
and 25 is to support the Council's efforts to achieve optimum yield in 
the fishery and provide social and economic benefits associated with 
maintaining stability in these for-hire fisheries.

DATES: Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern 
time, on April 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include in the subject 
line the following document identifier: 0648-AS70-NOA.
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Jason Rueter, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
     Fax: 727-824-5308, Attention: Jason Rueter.
    Copies of Amendments 25 and 17, which include a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement, a Regulatory Impact Review, and an 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, are available from the Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, 
Tampa, FL 33607; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Rueter, 727-824-5305; fax 727-
824-5308; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Charter vessel permits were initially 
required in the CMP fishery in 1987 and the reef fish fishery in 1997. 
A joint amendment establishing the charter vessel/headboat permit 
moratorium for the CMP fishery (Amendment 14) and the reef fish fishery 
(Amendment 20) was approved by NMFS on May 6, 2003, and implemented on 
June 16, 2003 (68 FR 26280). The intended effect of these amendments 
was to cap the number of for-hire vessels operating in these two 
fisheries at the current level (as of March 29, 2001) while the Council 
evaluated whether limited access programs were needed to constrain 
effort. The moratorium is set to expire on June 16, 2006. These 
amendments, if implemented would establish a limited access program.
    A proposed rule that would implement the measures outlined in 
Amendments 17 and 25 has been received from the Council. In accordance 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), NMFS is evaluating the proposed rule to 
determine whether it is consistent with the FMPs, 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.
    Comments received by April 24, 2006, whether specifically directed 
to the Amendments 17 and 25 or the proposed rule, will be considered by 
NMFS in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the 
amendments. Comments received after that date will not be considered by 
NMFS in this decision. All comments received by NMFS on the amendments 
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: February 14, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2403 Filed 2-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S