[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65-66]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28478]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC632]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold six in-person public hearings and one public hearing via webinar 
pertaining to Regulatory Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. 
This framework amendment considers revisions to South Atlantic red 
snapper catch levels following the most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 
73) and fishing gear changes intended to reduce dead discards 
throughout the snapper grouper fishery.

DATES: The in-person public hearings will be held January 17, 18, 19, 
24, 25, and 26, 2023. The webinar public hearing will be held January 
31, 2023. All hearings will begin at 6 p.m., EST.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, SAFMC; phone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; 
fax: (843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Meeting addresses:

January 17, 2023--Richmond Hill City Center, 520 Cedar Street, Richmond 
Hill, GA 31324; Phone: (912) 445-0043;
January 18, 2023--Town & Country Inn and Suites, 2008 Savannah Hwy, 
Charleston, SC 29407; Phone: (843) 571-1000;
January 19, 2023--The Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell Street, 
Morehead City, NC 28557; Phone: (252) 247-3883;
January 24, 2023--Hyatt Place Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center, 4742 
Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32246; Phone: (904) 641-7200;
January 25, 2023--City of Cocoa Civic Center, 430 Delannoy Ave, Cocoa 
Beach, FL 32922; Phone: (321) 639-3500;
January 26, 2023--Holiday Inn Key Largo, 99701 Overseas Highway, Key 
Largo, FL 33037 Phone: (305) 451-2121; and
January 31, 2023--This hearing will be held via webinar. Registration 
is required. Information, including a link to the webinar registration 
will be posted on the Council's website at: https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/ as it becomes available.

    Public hearing documents, an online public comment form, and other 
materials will be posted to the Council's website at https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/ as they become available. Written comments 
should be addressed to John Carmichael, Executive Director, SAFMC, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. Written comments 
must be received by February 3, 2023, by 5 p.m. During the hearings 
Council staff will provide an overview of actions being considered in 
the amendment. Staff will answer clarifying questions on the presented 
information and the proposed actions. Following the presentation and 
questions, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments on 
the amendment.

Regulatory Amendment 35 to the Snapper Grouper FMP

    Regulatory Amendment 35 considers revisions to South Atlantic red 
snapper catch levels following the most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 
73) and gear changes intended to reduce dead discards throughout the 
snapper grouper fishery. SEDAR 73 indicated the stock is overfished and 
overfishing is occurring, primarily due to high numbers of recreational 
dead discards of red snapper. The Council is required to revise the 
acceptable biological catch to be based on the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee's (SSC) most recent recommendations, which are 
based on SEDAR 73.
    The Council is also required to end overfishing of red snapper. 
Given that the vast majority of red snapper fishing-related mortality 
is attributed to recreational dead discards and given the multi-species 
nature of the South Atlantic snapper grouper fishery, the Council is 
considering a prohibition of the use of more than one separate hook per 
line while recreationally fishing for snapper grouper species with 
natural baits. This gear change would be expected to reduce 
recreational catch and discarding of snapper grouper species overall, 
thus reducing dead discards and addressing overfishing of red snapper. 
The actions considered in this amendment in addition to increased 
outreach and education efforts for best fishing practices, and other 
longer-term management actions currently under development, are 
collectively expected to end overfishing of red snapper.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the 
Council office (see ADDRESSES) 5 days prior to the hearing.
    Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject 
to change.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


[[Page 66]]


    Dated: December 27, 2022.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-28478 Filed 12-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P