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The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has requested that NMFS publish a rule under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to temporarily reduce the red grouper commercial and recreational Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and associated Annual Catch Targets (ACTs). In October 2018, the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed the results of an interim analysis performed by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center and recommended that the Council reduce the red grouper commercial and recreational ACLs and ACTs, effective for the 2019 fishing year. In addition, there have been recent deceases in red grouper landings and public testimony at the October Council meeting expressed concern about the status of the red grouper stock. Therefore, the Council is developing a framework action to reduce the ACLs and ACTs. In the meantime, based on these recent unforeseen circumstances, and consistent with the Council's request, NMFS intends to implement a rule under MSA section 305(c) to establish lower red grouper ACLs and ACTs for 2019.