[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 46925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18673]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-BD07
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the South Atlantic States; Regulatory
Amendment 14
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice announcing the preparation of an environmental
assessment (EA).
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SUMMARY: NMFS, in cooperation with the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council), is preparing an EA in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Regulatory Amendment 14 to
the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of
the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 14). This notice is
intended to inform the public of the change from the preparation of a
draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to an EA for Regulatory
Amendment 14.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 17, 2013, NMFS and the Council
published a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (78 FR
22846), to prepare a draft EIS for Regulatory Amendment 14. Regulatory
Amendment 14 was being developed to address management measures to
modify the fishing year for greater amberjack; revise the minimum size
limit measurement for gray triggerfish; increase the minimum size limit
for hogfish; adjust the commercial fishing season for vermilion
snapper; modify the aggregate grouper bag limit; and revise the
accountability measures (AMs) for gag and vermilion snapper. Regulatory
Amendment 14 was also being developed to modify the commercial and
recreational fishing years for black sea bass, and the alternatives
considered could have resulted in black sea bass pots being fished
during large whale migration and the right whale calving season.
Subsequent to the publication of the NOI, the Council modified the
amendment by removing actions regarding gray triggerfish, hogfish, and
grouper aggregate recreational bag limits, due to on-going and
anticipated stock assessments for these species. Furthermore, on May
13, 2013, the Council approved Regulatory Amendment 19 to the FMP. In
this amendment, the Council approved an action to implement a seasonal
closure (November 1 through April 30) for the commercial black sea bass
pot component of the snapper-grouper fishery. The seasonal closure
would address potential gear interactions with large whale migration
and right whales during calving season. If NMFS decides to publish a
final rule to implement Regulatory Amendment 19, that final rule would
likely become effective in 2013. It is anticipated that rulemaking to
implement Regulatory Amendment 14 would occur in 2014, and therefore,
alternatives in Regulatory Amendment 14 that would modify the
commercial fishing year for black sea bass would no longer be a concern
for protected species.
Actions in the EA for Regulatory Amendment 14 would now modify the
commercial and recreational fishing year for greater amberjack; modify
the commercial and recreational fishing years for black sea bass;
change the commercial fishing season for vermilion snapper; modify trip
limits for gag; and revise the recreational AMs for black sea bass and
vermilion snapper. These actions would ensure fishing opportunities are
extended during optimal times of the year, while ensuring that
overfishing does not occur, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Consequently, NMFS and the Council are initially preparing an EA
rather than proceeding with the development of a draft EIS. If the EA
results in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the EA and FONSI
will be the final environmental documents required by NEPA. If the EA
reveals that significant environmental impacts may be reasonably
expected to result from the proposed actions, NMFS and the Council will
develop a draft EIS to further evaluate those impacts.
The Council will hold public hearings to discuss the actions
included in Regulatory Amendment 14. Exact dates, times, and locations
will be announced by the Council. The public will be informed, via a
notification in the Federal Register, of the exact times, dates, and
locations of future public hearings for Regulatory Amendment 14.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 29, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-18673 Filed 8-1-13; 8:45 am]
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