Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 17

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 17 to the Fishery Management

Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico for

review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 17 would extend

the commercial reef fish vessel permit moratorium for 5 years to

December 31, 2005. The current moratorium is scheduled to expire on

December 31, 2000. The purpose of the moratorium is to provide a stable

environment in the fishery for evaluation and development of a more

comprehensive controlled access system for the entire commercial reef

fish fishery.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern standard

time, on February 15, 2000 at the appropriate address or fax number

(See ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional

Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to 727-570-5583. Comments

will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet.

Requests for copies of Amendment 17, which includes an

environmental assessment and a regulatory impact review, should be sent

to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301

North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida 33619-2266; phone: 813-228-2815; fax:

813-225-7015; e-mail: Gulf.C[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael C. Barnette, NMFS, 727-570-

5305, fax 727-570-5583, e-mail Michael.B[email protected].

[[Page 70679]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation

and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires each Regional

Fishery Management Council to submit a FMP or amendment to NMFS for

review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-

Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an amendment,

immediately publish a document in the Federal Register stating that the

amendment is available for public review and comment.

Amendment 4 to the FMP, as approved and implemented by NMFS on May

8, 1992, initiated the moratorium on the issuance of new commercial

reef fish vessel permits, which was intended to last for 3 years. It

was subsequently extended twice, the second of which was in 1995 for a

duration of 5 years terminating on December 31, 2000. The Council and

NMFS deemed the moratorium necessary to moderate short-term future

increases in fishing effort and to stabilize fishing mortality while

the Council considered a more comprehensive effort limitation program

for the reef fish fishery. During the moratorium, the Council developed

an individual transferable quota system for red snapper. However,

before it was implemented, Congress prohibited individual fishing

quotas (IFQs) under sections 303(d) and 407 of the Magnuson-Stevens

Act. The current Congressional prohibition of IFQs will lapse on

October 1, 2000.

The Council intends to evaluate a broad range of controlled access

systems, including IFQ, for the commercial reef fish fishery.

Development and implementation of a comprehensive controlled access

system is expected to extend past the period of the current moratorium.

Without the benefit of a moratorium, open access in the reef fish

fishery is bound to increase fishing effort and complicate allocation

of fishing privileges, thereby creating an unstable fishery

environment.

NMFS will consider comments received by February 15, 2000, whether

specifically directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, in its

decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the amendment.

NMFS will not consider comments received after that date in this

decision. NMFS will address all comments on the amendment or the

proposed rule received during their respective comment periods in the

final rule.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: December 13, 1999.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 99-32780 Filed 12-16-99; 8:45 am]

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