KEY MESSAGE:
- NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule for Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which addresses vermilion snapper and black sea bass in the South Atlantic.
- This proposed rule would increase the annual catch limits for South Atlantic vermilion snapper in response to the results of the latest population assessment.
- This proposed rule would reduce the annual catch limits for South Atlantic black sea bass in response to the results of the latest population assessment.
- Comments are due by March 6, 2019.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
- The proposed rule would increase the total and sector annual catch limits for vermilion snapper.
- New annual catch limits for vermilion snapper (in pounds whole weight) are as follows:
|
Year |
Total ACL |
Commercial ACL* |
Recreational ACL |
|
Current |
1,269,000 |
862,920 |
406,080 |
|
2019 |
1,579,000 |
1,073,720 |
505,280 |
|
2020 |
1,478,000 |
1,005,040 |
472,960 |
|
2021 |
1,408,000 |
957,440 |
450,560 |
|
2022 |
1,362,000 |
926,160 |
435,840 |
|
2023 until modified |
1,336,000 |
908,480 |
427,520 |
* For the commercial sector, the annual catch limit is further divided into two 6-month seasons and the annual catch limit is equally divided between the seasons.
- The proposed rule would decrease the total and sector annual catch limits for black sea bass.
- New annual catch limits for black sea bass (in pounds whole weight) are as follows:
|
Year |
Total ACL |
Commercial ACL* |
Recreational ACL ** (Fishing Year) |
|
Current |
1,756,450 |
755,274 |
1,001,176 |
|
2019 |
760,000 |
326,800 |
433,200 (2019/2020) |
|
2020 |
669,000 |
287,670 |
381,330 (2020/2021) |
|
2021 until modified |
643,000 |
276,490 |
366,510 (2021/2022) |
* The fishing year for the black sea bass commercial sector is from January 1 through December 31.
** The fishing year for the black sea bass recreational sector is from April 1 through March 31.
HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RULE:
The comment period is open now through March 6, 2019. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 84 FR 4758, published February 19, 2019.
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
1. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0133.
2. Click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields.
3. Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Web site at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/abbreviated-framework-amendment-2-vermilion-snapper-and-black-sea-bass.
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