Federal Register: PROPOSED RULES Fishery conservation and management: [50 CFR Part 622]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 622

DOCUMENT ID: [I.D. 021306C]

RIN ID: RIN 0648-AS70

NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES

ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Announcement of availability of fishery management plan amendments; request for comments.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Limited Access Program for Gulf Charter Vessels and Headboats

DATES: Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on April 24, 2006.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of Amendment 17 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (Amendment 17) and Amendment 25 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resource of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 25), prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). Amendments 17 and 25 would establish a limited access system for the Gulf of Mexico charter vessel/headboat (forhire) permits for the reef fish and CMP fisheries in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico and would continue to cap participation at current levels. The intended effect of Amendments 17 and 25 is to support the Council's efforts to achieve optimum yield in the fishery and provide social and economic benefits associated with maintaining stability in these forhire fisheries.

SUMMARY: Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic fisheries—; Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic resources and Gulf of Mexico reef fish,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Charter vessel permits were initially required in the CMP fishery in 1987 and the reef fish fishery in 1997. A joint amendment establishing the charter vessel/headboat permit moratorium for the CMP fishery (Amendment 14) and the reef fish fishery (Amendment 20) was approved by NMFS on May 6, 2003, and implemented on June 16, 2003 (68 FR 26280). The intended effect of these amendments was to cap the number of forhire vessels operating in these two fisheries at the current level (as of March 29, 2001) while the Council evaluated whether limited access programs were needed to constrain effort. The moratorium is set to expire on June 16, 2006. These amendments, if implemented would establish a limited access program.

A proposed rule that would implement the measures outlined in Amendments 17 and 25 has been received from the Council. In accordance with the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act), NMFS is evaluating the proposed rule to determine whether it is consistent with the FMPs, the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable law. If that determination is affirmative, NMFS will publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register for public review and comment.

Comments received by April 24, 2006, whether specifically directed to the Amendments 17 and 25 or the proposed rule, will be considered by NMFS in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the amendments. Comments received after that date will not be considered by NMFS in this decision. All comments received by NMFS on the amendments or the proposed rule during their respective comment periods will be addressed in the final rule.

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

Dated: February 14, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E62403 Filed 21706; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Jason Rueter, 727-824-5305; fax 727- 8245308; email: jason.rueter@noaa.gov.