[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24635-24636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6272]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 041906B]
RIN 0648-AN09


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 18A

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

ACTION: Availability of Amendment 18A to the reef fish resources of the 
Gulf of Mexico; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of Amendment 18A to the 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf 
of Mexico (Amendment 18A) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council). Amendment 18A would resolve several 
issues related to monitoring and enforcement of existing regulations, 
update the framework procedure for setting total allowable catch (TAC), 
and reduce bycatch mortality of incidentally caught endangered sea 
turtles and smalltooth sawfish. The intended effect of Amendment 18A 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 the fishery.

[[Page 24636]]


DATES: Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern 
time, on June 26, 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-AN09-NOA.
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
     Fax: 727-824-5308, Attention: Peter Hood.
    Copies of Amendment 18A, which includes an Environmental 
Assessment, a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and an Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), are available from the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 
33607; e-mail: [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 18A, if implemented, would: (1) 
Prohibit vessels from retaining reef fish caught under the recreational 
size and bag/possession limits when commercial quantities of Gulf reef 
fish are onboard; (2) adjust the number of persons allowed onboard when 
a vessel with both commercial and charter vessel/headboat permits is 
fishing commercially; (3) prohibit use of Gulf reef fish, except sand 
perch or dwarf sand perch, as bait in any commercial or recreational 
fishery in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico, with a 
limited exception for crustacean trap fisheries; (4) require a NMFS-
approved vessel monitoring system on board vessels with Federal 
commercial permits for Gulf reef fish, including charter vessels/
headboats with such commercial permits; (5) require owners and 
operators of vessels with Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat 
permits for Gulf reef fish to comply with sea turtle and smalltooth 
sawfish release protocols, possess on board specific gear to ensure 
proper release of such species, and comply with guidelines for proper 
care and release of incidentally caught sawfish and sea turtles; and 
(6) revise the TAC framework procedure to reflect current practices and 
terminology.
    A proposed rule that would implement the measure outlined in 
Amendment 18A 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 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.
    Comments received by June 26, 2006, whether specifically directed 
to the FMP or the proposed rule, will be considered by NMFS in its 
decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the amendment. 
Comments received after that date will not be considered by NMFS in 
this decision. All comments received by NMFS on the amendment or the 
proposed rule during theirrespective comment periods will be addressed 
in the final rule.

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

    Dated: April 21, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6272 Filed 4-25-06; 8:45 am]
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