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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-BM00 Publication ID: Spring 2023 
Title: ●Amendment 54 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico: Modifications to the Greater Amberjack Catch Limits, Sector Allocation, and Rebuilding Plan 
Abstract:

Reef Fish Amendment 54 and the proposed rule would modify the Gulf greater amberjack overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and sector annual catch limits and annual catch targets based on the most recent stock assessment (Southeast Data Assessment and Review 70), which indicated that the stock continued to be overfished and undergoing overfishing, and recommendations from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee.  The stock assessment included historical recreational catch and effort data adjusted to be consistent with the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey (FES), which replaced the MRIP Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS) in 2018.  Landings estimates generated using MRIP-FES are generally greater than those generated using MRIP-CHTS.  Reef Fish Amendment 54 would also modify the allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors using the MRIP-FES adjusted landing estimates on a more recent time series (1993-2019) than the current allocation (1981-2004) and only include years after greater amberjack was identified to species. The need for this action is to end overfishing and rebuild the greater amberjack stock as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, update existing greater amberjack catch limits and allocations to be consistent with best scientific information available, FMP objectives, and contemporary data collection methods. However, this version of the document does not currently include the preferred alternative in Action 1 because the Gulf Council added this alternative at the same meeting it approved the amendment.  Reef Fish Amendment 54 will be updated to include this preferred alternative, which is reflected in the motions report, before it is submitted for review and implementation.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 622   
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  03/10/2023  88 FR 14964   
NPRM Comment Period End  04/10/2023 
Final Action  06/00/2023 
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:
Andrew J. Strelcheck
Regional Administrator, Southeast Region
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
263 13th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone:727 824-5305
Email: andy.strelcheck@noaa.gov