0648-BN86 202504 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Amendment 59A under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf: Participation Requirements in Individual Fishing Quota Programs

This amendment would revise requirements to participate in the red snapper and grouper-tilefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs. The Gulf Council reviewed the original goals and objectives of the Gulf IFQ programs, the catch share review outcomes, and the goals and objectives of limited access privilege programs as listed in section 303A(c)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Following its discussions and reviews, the Gulf Council approved the new IFQ goals and objectives for the subject IFQ programs and initiated several plan amendments to consider changes consistent with these goals and objectives. The need for this amendment is to promote participation by fishermen engaged in the harvest of reef fish species included in the IFQ programs and improve opportunities for new participants to enter the IFQ programs. The National Marine Fisheries Service would implement these changes consistent with the authority in Magnuson-Stevens Act section 304(b).

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant First Time Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No Fully or Partially Exempt 50 CFR 622 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. No NPRM 10/00/2025 Undetermined Businesses None No 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