0648-BM12 202310 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Amendment 52 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 52)

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is finalizing regulations to implement Amendment 52.  The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved Amendment 52 for review by the Secretary of Commerce at their December 2022 meeting.  Amendment 52 and the proposed rule will increase the catch levels (acceptable biological catch and annual catch limits), modify sector allocations, and revise management measures for golden tilefish based on the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 66 (2021) stock assessment. Results from the assessment indicated that the stock is not overfished and not undergoing overfishing. The rule will change the commercial longline fishing season and recreational accountability measures for golden tilefish. Additionally, the rule will reduce the recreational blueline tilefish bag limit from three fish per person per day to two fish per person per day; prohibit the retention of blueline tilefish by the captain and crew of for-hire vessels; and modify the recreational accountability measures for blueline tilefish.

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 50 CFR 622 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. No NPRM 08/03/2023 88 FR 51255 NPRM Comment Period End 10/02/2023 Final Action 12/00/2023 No Businesses None No No No Andrew Strelcheck J. Regional Administrator, Southeast Region 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 727 824-5305 andy.strelcheck@noaa.gov 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg FL 33701