[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 139 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 41207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11552]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071406F]
RIN 0648-AU28


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic 
States; Amendment 14

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement; supplement; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
evaluating in a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) the 
environmental impacts of establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for 
deepwater snapper grouper species in the South Atlantic exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). This notice is intended to supplement a notice 
published January 31, 2002, announcing the preparation of a DEIS for 
Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

DATES: Comments must be received by August 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the alternatives should be requested from: Kim 
Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699, 
fax: 843-769-4520; e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Mark Sramek, Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, 263 13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, phone: 727-
824-5311; fax: 727-824-5308. Comments may also be submitted by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; toll free 1-866-
SAFMC-10 or 843-571-4366; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper grouper fishery operating in the 
South Atlantic EEZ is managed under the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 
FMP, under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
    The Council began considering use of MPAs in 1990. The Council has 
since held three rounds of scoping meetings and one round of 
informational public hearings intended to seek public input on 
criteria, siting, and impacts as they relate to MPAs for deepwater 
snapper grouper species. The Council decided to consider the 
implementation of deepwater MPAs in Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper 
FMP. The Notice of Intent (NOI) for the DEIS associated with FMP 
Amendment 14 was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2002 
(67 FR 4696). This NOI supplement is intended to update the public on 
progress of Amendment 14 and the DEIS. The Council has refined the 
purpose and need for MPAs and has outlined a range of alternatives for 
inclusion in the DEIS.
    The primary purpose of implementing these MPAs is to employ a 
collaborative approach to identify MPA sites with the potential to 
protect a portion of the population and habitat of long-lived, 
deepwater snapper grouper species (speckled hind, snowy grouper, warsaw 
grouper, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, golden tilefish, and 
blueline tilefish) from directed fishing pressure to achieve a more 
natural sex ratio, age, and size structure within the proposed MPAs, 
while minimizing adverse social and economic effects. MPAs are the most 
effective fishery management tool that allows deepwater snapper grouper 
species to reach their natural size and age, protects spawning 
locations, and provides a refuge for early developmental stages of fish 
species. The Council recognizes that there may be positive impacts from 
the designation of the proposed sites to non-deepwater species that may 
co-occur, such as vermilion snapper, red porgy, and gag.
    The Council defines MPAs within its jurisdiction as a network of 
specific areas of marine environments reserved and managed for the 
primary purpose of aiding in the recovery of overfished stocks and to 
insure the persistence of healthy fish stocks, fisheries, and habitats. 
Such areas may be over natural or artificial bottom and may include 
prohibition of harvest indefinitely (i.e., an undefined time period) to 
accomplish needed conservation goals.
    The following types of actions are available to the Council for 
designating MPAs. The Council is focusing on Type 2 management actions 
to protect deepwater snapper grouper species in Amendment 14.
    Type 1 - Permanent closure/no-take
    Type 2 - Permanent closure/some take allowed
    Type 3 - Limited duration closure/no-take
    Type 4 - Limited duration closure/some take allowed
    The Council is also considering implementing measures to provide 
for on-site enforcement capabilities, including the utilization of 
vessel monitoring system equipment on specific categories of fishing 
vessels. The Council intends to request that NMFS implement regulations 
to prohibit the use of shark bottom longline gear within the MPAs 
proposed in this amendment.
    The full suite of alternatives currently being considered for 
inclusion in the DEIS for FMP Amendment 14 can be obtained from the 
Council (see ADDRESSES for contact information).
    A Federal Register notice will announce the availability of the 
DEIS associated with the amendment, as well as a 45-day public comment 
period, pursuant to regulations issued by the Council on Environmental 
Quality for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and to 
NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6. The Council will consider public 
comments received on the DEIS in developing the FEIS, and before voting 
to submit the final amendment to NMFS for Secretarial review, approval, 
and implementation. NMFS will announce in the Federal Register the 
availability of the final amendment and FEIS for public review during 
the Secretarial review period and will consider all public comments 
prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially 
approve the final amendment.

    Authority: 6 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 14, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11552 Filed 7-19-06; 8:45 am]
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