[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 46925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18673]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-BD07


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the South Atlantic States; Regulatory 
Amendment 14

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

ACTION: Notice announcing the preparation of an environmental 
assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: NMFS, in cooperation with the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (Council), is preparing an EA in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Regulatory Amendment 14 to 
the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of 
the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 14). This notice is 
intended to inform the public of the change from the preparation of a 
draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to an EA for Regulatory 
Amendment 14.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 17, 2013, NMFS and the Council 
published a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (78 FR 
22846), to prepare a draft EIS for Regulatory Amendment 14. Regulatory 
Amendment 14 was being developed to address management measures to 
modify the fishing year for greater amberjack; revise the minimum size 
limit measurement for gray triggerfish; increase the minimum size limit 
for hogfish; adjust the commercial fishing season for vermilion 
snapper; modify the aggregate grouper bag limit; and revise the 
accountability measures (AMs) for gag and vermilion snapper. Regulatory 
Amendment 14 was also being developed to modify the commercial and 
recreational fishing years for black sea bass, and the alternatives 
considered could have resulted in black sea bass pots being fished 
during large whale migration and the right whale calving season.
    Subsequent to the publication of the NOI, the Council modified the 
amendment by removing actions regarding gray triggerfish, hogfish, and 
grouper aggregate recreational bag limits, due to on-going and 
anticipated stock assessments for these species. Furthermore, on May 
13, 2013, the Council approved Regulatory Amendment 19 to the FMP. In 
this amendment, the Council approved an action to implement a seasonal 
closure (November 1 through April 30) for the commercial black sea bass 
pot component of the snapper-grouper fishery. The seasonal closure 
would address potential gear interactions with large whale migration 
and right whales during calving season. If NMFS decides to publish a 
final rule to implement Regulatory Amendment 19, that final rule would 
likely become effective in 2013. It is anticipated that rulemaking to 
implement Regulatory Amendment 14 would occur in 2014, and therefore, 
alternatives in Regulatory Amendment 14 that would modify the 
commercial fishing year for black sea bass would no longer be a concern 
for protected species.
    Actions in the EA for Regulatory Amendment 14 would now modify the 
commercial and recreational fishing year for greater amberjack; modify 
the commercial and recreational fishing years for black sea bass; 
change the commercial fishing season for vermilion snapper; modify trip 
limits for gag; and revise the recreational AMs for black sea bass and 
vermilion snapper. These actions would ensure fishing opportunities are 
extended during optimal times of the year, while ensuring that 
overfishing does not occur, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
    Consequently, NMFS and the Council are initially preparing an EA 
rather than proceeding with the development of a draft EIS. If the EA 
results in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the EA and FONSI 
will be the final environmental documents required by NEPA. If the EA 
reveals that significant environmental impacts may be reasonably 
expected to result from the proposed actions, NMFS and the Council will 
develop a draft EIS to further evaluate those impacts.
    The Council will hold public hearings to discuss the actions 
included in Regulatory Amendment 14. Exact dates, times, and locations 
will be announced by the Council. The public will be informed, via a 
notification in the Federal Register, of the exact times, dates, and 
locations of future public hearings for Regulatory Amendment 14.

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

    Dated: July 29, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-18673 Filed 8-1-13; 8:45 am]
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