[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 21791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09438]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF407


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice; public hearing via webinar.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft 
Reef Fish Amendment 47--Modify Vermilion Snapper ACLs and MSY Proxies.

DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Wednesday, May 
24, 2017; starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. 
Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on 
Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois 
Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630; 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on the results of a 2016 vermilion 
snapper stock assessment, the Council's Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) concluded that the vermilion snapper stock is neither 
overfished nor undergoing overfishing. The SSC provided recommendations 
for the overfishing limit (OFL) during 2017-21 based on a proxy for 
maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of 30% SPR, and recommended acceptable 
biological catch (ABC) during 2017-2021 based on fishing at a fishing 
mortality rate that was 75% of the OFL fishing mortality rate. The 
Council accepted 30% SPR as the preferred MSY proxy, but also asked for 
analysis of the OFL and ABC yields at 26% SPR, which is a slightly less 
conservative MSY proxy, resulting in higher yields but also a smaller 
spawning stock biomass.
    The Council needs to take two actions in this amendment. Action 1 
is to adopt an MSY proxy. The alternatives are: (1) To not adopt a 
proxy (no action), (2) adopt the proxy of 30% SPR (preferred 
alternative), or (3) adopt the proxy of 26% SPR. Action 2 is to set 
annual catch limits (ACLs) for 2017-21. The alternatives are: (1) To 
keep the current 3.42 million pound whole weight ACL that was 
implemented in 2012 using a data-poor method, (2) set ACL equal to the 
annual estimate of ABC for each year 2017-21 (which would result in a 
declining annual yield) with the 2021 ACL remaining in place for 
subsequent years, (3) set ACL equal to a constant catch corresponding 
to the average ABC during 2017-21 (preferred alternative), or (4) set 
ACL equal to the equilibrium ABC, which is the catch level at which no 
further declines are projected under current biological conditions. The 
specific ACL yields for Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 depend upon the 
selection of MSY proxy in Acton 1.
    Staff and a Council member will be available to answer any 
questions and the public will have the opportunity to provide testimony 
on the amendment and other related testimony.
    The schedule is as follows:
    Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Webinar--6 p.m. EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5395690967655721217.
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
information about joining the webinar.
    Public documents may be obtained by contacting the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council at (813) 348-1630 or on their Web site at 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

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

    Dated: May 4, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09438 Filed 5-9-17; 8:45 am]
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