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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-BJ08 Publication ID: Fall 2019 
Title: ●Framework Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Reef Fish FMP); Modification of the Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Commercial Trip Limits 
Abstract:

The commercial sector harvest of Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) greater amberjack is managed to an annual catch target (ACT) and is closed for the remainder of the fishing year when the ACT is met or projected to be met. Commercial landings for greater amberjack have routinely met or exceeded the ACT before the end of the commercial fishing year, requiring an in-season closure and a payback. During public comment at Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) meetings, commercial fishers have indicated a preference for as long of a fishing season as possible since these incidentally caught fish must be discarded if the season is closed. The Council developed a framework amendment to the Reef Fish FMP to address public concerns regarding greater amberjack. In response to the Council's recommendation, this rulemaking proposes to modify the Reef Fish FMP to reduce the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) greater amberjack commercial trip limit from 1,500 pounds gutted weight to 1,000 pounds gutted weight with a step-down to 250 pounds when 75 percent of the quota has been landed. The need for the rule is to extend the Gulf greater amberjack commercial fishing season by constraining the harvest rate while continuing to prevent overfishing and rebuild the stock.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 622   
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  01/00/2020 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: State 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Roy E. Crabtree
Regional Administrator, Southeast Region
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
263 13th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone:727 824-5305
Fax:727 824-5308
Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov