February 5, 2016
Notice of Availability for Public Comments on Changes Proposed for Snapper-Grouper in the South Atlantic
NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 35). The Notice of Availability for public comment on this amendment published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2016 (81 FR 6222). Comments are due by April 5, 2016.
Proposed management measures
If approved by NOAA Fisheries, Amendment 35 would:
• Remove dog snapper, black snapper, mahogany snapper, and schoolmaster from the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan. These species have extremely low landings, and regulations governing their harvest differ in state and federal waters. The State of Florida has indicated that if these species are removed from the Fishery Management Plan, its intends to extend state regulations for these species into federal waters off Florida, creating a more consistent regulatory environment.
• Revise regulations for the use of golden tilefish longline endorsements. Specifically, Amendment 35 would clarify regulations for the use of longline endorsements to ensure that fishery participants holding longline endorsements are not allowed to fish under both the hook-and-line quota and the longline quota within the same fishing year. This was the original intent of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council when it implemented the longline endorsement program for golden tilefish under Amendment 18B to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan (78 FR 23858, April 23, 2013).
Request for Comments
Comments on the proposed rule must be received no later than April 5, 2016, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.
Addresses
Electronic or hardcopies of the proposed action may be obtained from:
The NOAA Fisheries Web site:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2014/am35/index.html.
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