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DOC/NOAA | RIN: 0648-BN31 | Publication ID: Fall 2024 |
Title: ●Secretarial Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region to End Overfishing of Red Snapper | |
Abstract:
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes regulations to implement the Secretarial Amendment pursuant to section 304(c)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The most recent stock assessment for red snapper (Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review 73, 2021) indicated that red snapper is overfished and undergoing overfishing, but the stock is making adequate progress towards rebuilding. In July 2021, NMFS sent a letter to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) stating that red snapper were overfished and that a plan to end overfishing of the red snapper stock needed to be developed and implemented. The Council developed Regulatory Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 35) and if implemented, it would have reduced the catch levels of red snapper, but it would not have ended overfishing. The Council considered the results of a recent pilot study on the possible overestimation of recreational fishing effort, and Council members expressed their individual concerns with Regulatory Amendment 35. The Council rescinded its final action to submit Regulatory Amendment 35 to NMFS for implementation and no regulations are in place to end overfishing. On June 14, 2024, NMFS implemented interim measures to reduce overfishing by temporarily reducing the catch limits for red snapper (89 FR 50350), and these measures are effective through December 11, 2024. The Secretarial Amendment will evaluate a range of alternatives for setting and managing catch for South Atlantic red snapper to end overfishing and support rebuilding objectives of the stock. The Secretarial Amendment would also explore management strategies to increase fishing opportunities for red snapper by transitioning the large number of dead recreational discards to landed catch. NMFS will develop an environmental impact statement (EIS) to describe and analyze alternatives to address the management needs previously described, including the current or no action alternatives. Possible actions that NMFS may consider to include in the EIS are, but are not limited to adjusting catch levels, adjusting accountability measures, and discard reduction measures. Based on a potential range of actions and alternatives, including dead discard reduction seasons and areas, and prior to conducting any actual economic effects analysis, NMFS believes this rule may adversely affect all sectors and components of the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper fishery. This would include owners and crew of commercial fishing vessels, charter vessels and headboats, seafood dealers, and recreational anglers. Onshore support businesses such as bait and tackle shops may also be adversely affected. The magnitude of these effects will be determined by the breadth and duration of proposed management measures aimed at reducing red snapper dead discards. |
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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 |
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 622 | |
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. |
Legal Deadline:
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Overall Description of Deadline: Per a legal settlement, the final rule must be submitted to the Federal Register no later than June 6, 2025. |
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Timetable:
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined | Government Levels Affected: None |
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 |