[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11502-11507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04808]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 150303208-6099-01]
RIN 0648-BE70
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 35
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 35 to the
Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic Region (FMP) (Amendment 35), as prepared and submitted by the
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). The proposed rule,
if implemented, would remove black snapper, mahogany snapper, dog
snapper, and schoolmaster from the FMP as well as revise regulations
regarding the golden tilefish longline endorsement program. The purpose
of this rule is to ensure that only snapper-grouper species requiring
Federal management are included in the Snapper-Grouper FMP, improve the
consistency of management of snapper-grouper species in waters off
south Florida across state and Federal jurisdictional boundaries, and
to align regulations for golden tilefish longline endorsements with the
Council's original intent for establishing the longline endorsement
program.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by
``NOAA-NMFS-2015-0076'' by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-
NMFS-2015-0076, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required
fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Nikhil Mehta, Southeast
Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or
[[Page 11503]]
individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
Electronic copies of Amendment 35 may be obtained from the
Southeast Regional Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.
Amendment 35 includes a draft environmental assessment, a Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, a Regulatory Impact Review, and a
Fishery Impact Statement.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, telephone: 727-824-5305;
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic is managed under the FMP, and includes black snapper, mahogany
snapper, dog snapper, schoolmaster, and golden tilefish. The FMP was
prepared by the Council and is implemented through regulations at 50
CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Management Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule
This rule would remove black snapper, mahogany snapper, dog
snapper, and schoolmaster from the FMP, and revise the golden tilefish
longline endorsement regulations to be consistent with the Council's
original intent for establishing the longline endorsement program.
Remove Four Species From the FMP
Black snapper, mahogany snapper, dog snapper, and schoolmaster are
currently in the FMP, but have extremely low commercial landings in
state and Federal waters, and almost all harvest (recreational and
commercial) occurs in waters off the coast of South Florida. Currently,
NMFS does not manage these species in Federal waters of the Gulf of
Mexico (Gulf); however, the species are subject to regulations in
Florida state waters. As described in Amendment 35, there are currently
different regulations for recreational bag limits, size limits, and
catch levels for these species between the Gulf, South Atlantic, and
Florida. Inconsistent regulations make enforcement difficult and can be
confusing to the public. This rule would remove black snapper, mahogany
snapper, dog snapper, and schoolmaster from the FMP and NMFS's
management in Federal waters of the South Atlantic to ensure that only
species requiring federal management are included in the FMP. The state
of Florida has indicated that if these species are removed from the
FMP, it intends to extend state regulation of these species into
Federal waters off Florida for Florida-state registered fishing
vessels, under Sec. 306(a)(3)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, to
provide consistent regulations for these species across state and
Federal jurisdictional boundaries.
Black snapper is part of the deep-water complex within the FMP. The
deep-water complex currently includes black snapper, yellowedge
grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, and
blackfin snapper. If black snapper is removed from the FMP, the annual
catch limit (ACL) for the deep-water complex would be reduced from
170,279 lb (77,237 kg), round weight, to 169,896 lb (77,063 kg), round
weight, a difference of 382 lb (173 kg), round weight.
Dog snapper and mahogany snapper are part of the other snappers
complex within the FMP. The other snappers complex currently includes
cubera snapper, gray snapper, lane snapper, dog snapper, and mahogany
snapper. Removal of dog snapper and mahogany snapper from the FMP would
reduce the other snappers complex ACL from 1,517,716 lb (688,424 kg),
round weight, to 1,513,883 lb (686,688 kg), round weight, a difference
of 3,833 lb (1,739 kg), round weight.
Dog snapper, mahogany snapper, and black snapper are not typically
targeted by commercial or recreational fishermen; therefore, bycatch
associated with harvest of these species is extremely low. Schoolmaster
is currently designated as an ecosystem component (EC) species in the
FMP. The Council did not choose to retain dog snapper, mahogany
snapper, and black snapper in the FMP as EC species because the
objective of the amendment is to establish a consistent regulatory
environment across jurisdictional boundaries in Gulf and South Atlantic
Federal waters and Florida state waters. Because NMFS does not manage
these species in Gulf Federal waters, retaining them as EC species
would continue inconsistent regulations across jurisdictional
boundaries. Additionally, if these species are designated as EC
species, the state of Florida would not be able to extend their
management authority for these species into Federal waters, because
states may not generally manage species in Federal waters if those
species are included in Federal fishery management plans.
A formal stock assessment has not been performed for black snapper,
mahogany snapper, dog snapper, or schoolmaster; however, there is no
indication that these stocks are depleted. Therefore, removing these
species from the FMP is not expected to result in any adverse
biological effects.
Clarify Regulations for Golden Tilefish Endorsement Holders
The final rule to implement Amendment 18B to the FMP (78 FR 23858,
April 23, 2013) established a longline endorsement program for the
commercial golden tilefish component of the snapper-grouper fishery. A
longline endorsement is required to fish for golden tilefish with
longline gear. Amendment 18B also established a golden tilefish hook-
and-line quota and modified the golden tilefish commercial trip limits.
The golden tilefish longline endorsement, sector quotas, and trip
limits, were implemented because the golden tilefish commercial ACL was
being harvested rapidly by fishermen using longline gear, so that
fishermen who had historically used hook-and-line gear to target golden
tilefish were not able to participate in the golden tilefish portion of
the snapper-grouper fishery. The Council established the longline
endorsement program and gear specific commercial quotas to help ensure
that fishermen fishing with each gear type have a fair and equitable
allocation of the commercial quota. The Council did not intend for
longline endorsement holders to fish on the hook-and-line quota, or for
non-endorsement holders to fish on the longline quota.
The Council and NMFS are aware that since Amendment 18B was
implemented, some longline endorsement holders are transferring their
golden tilefish longline endorsement to another vessel and then fishing
for golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the hook-and-line
quota. Other endorsement holders are renewing their Federal commercial
snapper-grouper vessel permit but are waiting to renew their golden
tilefish longline endorsement, so that they are able to fish for golden
tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the hook-and-line quota while
their longline endorsement is not valid. Neither scenario is consistent
with the original intent of the Council in Amendment 18B. The Council
decided to clarify their intent for golden tilefish longline
[[Page 11504]]
endorsement holders in Amendment 35. Currently, as described at Sec.
622.191(a)(2)(ii), the regulations state that ``Vessels with a golden
tilefish longline endorsement are not eligible to fish for golden
tilefish using hook-and-line gear under this 500-lb (227-kg), gutted
weight, trip limit.'' This rule would propose that ``Vessels that have
valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements anytime during
the fishing year, are not eligible to fish for golden tilefish using
hook-and-line gear under this 500-lb (227-;kg), gutted weight, trip
limit.'' Thus, a fisherman who owns a vessel with a valid or renewable
golden tilefish longline endorsement would not be eligible to fish for
golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the 500-lb (227-kg),
gutted weight, hook-and-line trip limit during that fishing year.
Additional Change to Codified Text
In the part 622 regulations, NMFS would revise ``allowable
biological catch'' to read ``acceptable biological catch'' wherever it
occurs. In the part 600 regulations, ``ABC'' is defined as ``acceptable
biological catch;'' however, in the part 622 regulations, ``ABC'' is
defined as ``acceptable biological catch'' in three places and
``allowable biological catch'' in four places. NMFS has determined that
``acceptable biological catch'' is the more precise definition for
``ABC''. Therefore, to be consistent with the part 600 regulations and
to use the more precise terminology, NMFS proposes to change the
definition of ``ABC'' to ``acceptable biological catch,'' and
accordingly revise ``allowable biological catch,'' wherever it occurs
in the part 622 regulations.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is
consistent with Amendment 35, the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and
other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public
comment.
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
A Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) Analysis was prepared as an
Appendix to Amendment 35 and is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
For this proposed rule, NMFS adopts this analysis as its initial
regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) required by section 603 of the
RFA, 5 U.S.C. 603. The IRFA describes the economic impact that this
proposed rule, if implemented, would have on small entities. A
description of the proposed rule, why it is being considered, and the
objectives of, and legal basis for this proposed rule are contained at
the beginning of this section in the preamble and in the SUMMARY
section of the preamble. A summary of the IRFA follows.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this
rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have
been identified. In addition, no new reporting, record-keeping, or
other compliance requirements are introduced by this proposed rule.
Accordingly, this rule does not implicate the Paperwork Reduction Act.
This proposed rule would be expected to directly affect all
commercial vessels that harvest black snapper, dog snapper, mahogany
snapper, schoolmaster and/or golden tilefish under the FMP. The removal
of the four snapper-grouper species discussed in this proposed rule
would not directly apply to or affect charter vessel and headboat (for-
hire) businesses. Any impact to the profitability or competitiveness of
for-hire fishing businesses would be the result of changes in for-hire
angler demand and would therefore be indirect in nature. Currently,
charter and headboat captains and crew can retain black snapper, dog
snapper, mahogany snapper, schoolmaster and golden tilefish under the
recreational bag limit; however, they cannot sell these fish. As such,
charter and headboat captains and crew would only be affected as
recreational anglers. The RFA does not consider recreational anglers,
who would be directly affected by this proposed rule, to be small
entities, so they are outside the scope of this analysis and only the
effects on commercial vessels were analyzed.
As of November 3, 2014, there were 564 vessels with valid or
renewable South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Unlimited Permits, 120 vessels
with valid or renewable 225-lb (102-kg) Trip Limit Permits and 22
vessels with valid or renewable longline endorsements for golden
tilefish. Although all commercial snapper-grouper permit holders have
the opportunity to fish for black snapper, dog snapper, mahogany
snapper, and/or schoolmaster, on average, there were only four
federally permitted vessels identified from 2009 through 2013 that
commercially landed one or more of these species each year. The average
annual vessel-level revenue for all species harvested by these four
vessels over this period was approximately $101,000 (2013 dollars), of
which $32 was from black snapper, dog snapper, mahogany snapper, and/or
schoolmaster. During the same time period, on average, 22 vessels per
year commercially harvested golden tilefish using longline gear and
their annual average vessel-level revenue for all species was
approximately $95,000 (2013 dollars), of which $55,000 was from golden
tilefish. Thirty-seven vessels, on average (2009 through 2013),
commercially harvested golden tilefish exclusively with non-longline
gear and they earned an average of approximately $46,000 (2013 dollars)
per vessel for all species harvested, of which $2,000 was from golden
tilefish.
No other small entities that would be directly affected by this
proposed rule have been identified.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established size
criteria for all major industry sectors in the U.S., including
commercial finfish harvesters (NAICS code 114111). A business primarily
involved in finfish harvesting is classified as a small business if it
is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of
operation (including its affiliates), and has combined annual receipts
not in excess of $20.5 million for all its affiliated operations
worldwide. All of the vessels directly regulated by this rule are
believed to be small entities based on the SBA size criteria.
Of the 684 vessels eligible to fish for the species managed under
the FMP, only 63 of them are expected to be affected by this proposed
rule (approximately 9 percent). Because all of these commercial fishing
businesses are believed to be small entities, the issue of
disproportionate effects on small versus large entities does not arise
in the present case.
This proposed rule would remove black snapper, dog snapper,
mahogany snapper, and schoolmaster from the FMP. The state of Florida
intends to then extend its management of these species into Federal
waters. Average revenues per vessel from 2009 through 2013 for these
four snapper-grouper species accounted for less than 1 percent of
average total revenues received by the vessels that commercially
harvested these species. Almost all harvest (recreational and
commercial) of these species occurs in state and Federal waters off the
coast of Florida. The normal harvest of these species would not be
expected to change under management by the state of Florida, thus no
reduction in associated ex-vessel revenue or profit would be expected
from this proposed rule.
This proposed rule would also modify the golden tilefish longline
endorsement regulations. Vessels that have Federal
[[Page 11505]]
commercial snapper-grouper permits with golden tilefish longline
endorsements, specifically those that harvest golden tilefish using
both longline and hook-and-line gear, would be expected to be
negatively affected by this proposed action because they would no
longer be able to harvest golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear
under the hook-and-line quota. This would result in reduced revenues if
they are unable to substitute the harvest of other species. A total of
four vessels were identified in 2014 that had a valid or renewable
golden tilefish longline endorsement during some part of the year and
also harvested golden tilefish under the hook-and-line 500-lb (227-kg)
trip limit quota. On average, these four vessels earned an estimated
$8,142 (2013 dollars) per vessel from golden tilefish landings using
hook-and-line gear in 2014. This accounts for approximately 9.2 percent
of their average total revenue per vessel (2009 through 2013; 2014 data
were incomplete). Therefore, this proposed rule, if implemented,
assuming no substitution of other species and constant prices, would be
expected to result in an estimated recurring annual loss of $8,142
(2013 dollars) per vessel for the four vessels that harvested golden
tilefish using both longline and hook-and-line gear. Vessels that do
not have longline endorsements, on the other hand, would be expected to
indirectly benefit from this proposed rule, because they would no
longer have to compete with longline endorsement holders for the hook-
and-line quota. On average, the 37 non-longline endorsement holders
would be expected to experience an annual per-vessel increase in
revenue of approximately $880 (2013 dollars) or less than 2 percent of
their annual average vessel-level revenue.
The following discussion analyzes the alternatives that were not
selected as preferred by the Council. Only actions that would have
direct economic effects on small entities merit inclusion.
Five alternatives were considered to remove species from the FMP.
The first alternative, the no action alternative, would retain all
current species in the FMP and would not be expected to have any
economic effects. Under the no action alternative, species that do not
require Federal management would remain in the FMP and potential cost
savings and/or efficiency gains of management would go unrealized. All
of the other alternatives were selected as preferred and would result
in the removal of black snapper, dog snapper, mahogany snapper, and
schoolmaster from Federal management.
Three alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were
considered for modifying the golden tilefish endorsement regulations.
The first alternative, the no action alternative, would not be expected
to have any economic effects. The current golden tilefish endorsement
regulations are, however, contrary to the intent of the Council and
unintentionally limit golden tilefish harvest opportunities and
economic benefits for hook-and-line fishermen. The second alternative
would revise the golden tilefish endorsement regulations so that any
vessel with a valid or renewable longline endorsement would not be
permitted to harvest golden tilefish under the hook-and-line quota.
Under the second alternative, longline endorsement holders that operate
more than one vessel (with a Federal snapper-grouper vessel permit)
would be able to transfer their golden tilefish longline endorsement to
a different vessel and then continue to fish for golden tilefish under
the hook-and-line quota in a single year. Only one vessel exhibited
this behavior in 2014. Under the second alternative, the negative
economic effects on the longline endorsement holders would be lower
than under this proposed rule, as would the positive effects
experienced by the hook-and-line component of the commercial sector.
However, this alternative would be inconsistent with the original
Council intent of establishing the longline endorsement.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622
Acceptable biological catch, Annual catch limit, Commercial trip
limit, Fisheries, Fishing, Quotas, Snapper-grouper, South atlantic,
Species table.
Dated: February 26, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH
ATLANTIC
0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In part 622, revise ``allowable biological catch'' to read
``acceptable biological catch'' wherever it occurs.
0
3. In Sec. 622.185, paragraph (a)(3) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 622.185 Size limits.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(3) Blackfin, cubera, gray, queen, silk, and yellowtail snappers--
12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec. 622.191, the second sentence in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) is
revised to read as follows:
Sec. 622.191 Commercial trip limits.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) * * * Vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish
longline endorsements any time during the fishing year, are not
eligible to fish for golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under
this 500-lb (227-kg), gutted weight, trip limit.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec. 622.193, paragraphs (h) and (p) are revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 622.193 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs),
and accountability measures (AMs).
* * * * *
(h) Deep-water complex (including yellowedge grouper, silk snapper,
misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, and blackfin snapper)--(1)
Commercial sector--(i) If commercial landings for the deep-water
complex, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the
commercial ACL of 131,268 lb (59,542 kg), round weight, the AA will
file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close
the commercial sector for the remainder of the fishing year. On and
after the effective date of such a notification, all sale or purchase
of deep-water complex species is prohibited and harvest or possession
of these species in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is limited to the
bag and possession limits. These bag and possession limits apply in the
South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid Federal commercial
or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper
has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested,
i.e., in state or Federal waters.
(ii) If commercial landings exceed the ACL, and the combined
commercial and recreational ACL of 169,896 lb (77,064 kg), round
weight, is exceeded, and at least one of the species in the deep-water
complex is overfished, based on the most recent Status of U.S.
Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the
following fishing year to reduce the commercial ACL for that
[[Page 11506]]
following year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the prior
fishing year.
(2) Recreational sector. (i) If recreational landings for the deep-
water complex, as estimated by the SRD, are projected to reach the
recreational ACL of 38,628 lb (17,521 kg), round weight, the AA will
file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close
the recreational sector for the remainder of the fishing year, unless
the RA determines that no closure is necessary based on the best
scientific information available. On and after the effective date of
such a notification, the bag and possession limits are zero.
(ii) If recreational landings for the deep-water complex, exceed
the applicable recreational ACL, and the combined commercial and
recreational ACL of 169,896 lb (77,064 kg), round weight, is exceeded,
and at least one of the species in the deep-water complex is
overfished, based on the most recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to
Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the
Federal Register, to reduce the length of the recreational fishing
season in the following fishing year to ensure recreational landings do
not exceed the recreational ACL the following fishing year. When NMFS
reduces the length of the following recreational fishing season and
closes the recreational sector, the following closure provisions apply:
The bag and possession limits for the deep-water complex in or from the
South Atlantic EEZ are zero. Additionally, the recreational ACL will be
reduced by the amount of the recreational ACL overage in the prior
fishing year. The fishing season and recreational ACL will not be
reduced if the RA determines, using the best scientific information
available that no reduction is necessary.
* * * * *
(p) Other snappers complex (including cubera snapper, gray snapper,
and lane snapper)--(1) Commercial sector--(i) If commercial landings
for the other snappers complex, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are
projected to reach the complex commercial ACL of 344,575 lb (156,297
kg), round weight, the AA will file a notification with the Office of
the Federal Register, to close the commercial sector for this complex
for the remainder of the fishing year. On and after the effective date
of such a notification, all sale or purchase of cubera snapper, gray
snapper, and lane snapper is prohibited, and harvest or possession of
any of these species in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is limited to
the bag and possession limits. These bag and possession limits apply in
the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid Federal
commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic
snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species
were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters.
(ii) If commercial landings for the other snappers complex, as
estimated by the SRD, exceed the commercial ACL, and the combined
commercial and recreational ACL of 1,513,883 lb (686,686 kg), round
weight, is exceeded, and at least one of the species in the other
snappers complex is overfished, based on the most recent Status of U.S.
Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register to reduce the commercial ACL for that
following year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the prior
fishing year.
(2) Recreational sector--(i) If recreational landings for the other
snappers complex, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to
reach the recreational ACL of 1,169,308 lb (530,391 kg), round weight,
the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register
to close the recreational sector for the remainder of the fishing year
regardless if any stock in the other snappers complex is overfished,
unless NMFS determines that no closure is necessary based on the best
scientific information available. On and after the effective date of
such a notification, the bag and possession limits for any species in
the other snappers complex in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
(ii) If recreational landings for the other snappers complex, as
estimated by the SRD, exceed the recreational ACL, then during the
following fishing year, recreational landings will be monitored for a
persistence in increased landings, and if necessary, the AA will file a
notification with the Office of the Federal Register, to reduce the
length of the recreational fishing season and the recreational ACL by
the amount of the recreational ACL overage, if at least one of the
species in the other snappers complex is overfished based on the most
recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, and the combined
commercial and recreational ACL of 1,513,883 lb (686,686 kg), round
weight, is exceeded during the same fishing year. NMFS will use the
best scientific information available to determine if reducing the
length of the recreational fishing season and recreational ACL is
necessary. When the recreational sector is closed as a result of NMFS
reducing the length of the recreational fishing season and the ACL, the
bag and possession limits for any species in the other snappers complex
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
* * * * *
0
6. In Appendix A to part 622, Table 4 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 622--Species Tables
* * * * *
Table 4 of Appendix A to Part 622--South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper
Balistidae--Triggerfishes
Gray triggerfish, Balistes capriscus
Carangidae--Jacks
Bar jack, Caranx ruber
Greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili
Lesser amberjack, Seriola fasciata
Almaco jack, Seriola rivoliana
Banded rudderfish, Seriola zonata
Ephippidae--Spadefishes
Spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber
Haemulidae--Grunts
Margate, Haemulon album
Tomtate, Haemulon aurolineatum
Sailor's choice, Haemulon parrai
White grunt, Haemulon plumieri
Labridae--Wrasses
Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus
Lutjanidae--Snappers
Queen snapper, Etelis oculatus
Mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis
Blackfin snapper, Lutjanus buccanella
Red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus
Cubera snapper, Lutjanus cyanopterus
Gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus
Lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris
Silk snapper, Lutjanus vivanus
Yellowtail snapper, Ocyurus chrysurus
Vermilion snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens
Malacanthidae--Tilefishes
Blueline tilefish, Caulolatilus microps
Golden tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Sand tilefish, Malacanthus plumieri
Percichthyidae--Temperate basses
Wreckfish, Polyprion americanus
Serranidae--Groupers
Rock hind, Epinephelus adscensionis
Graysby, Epinephelus cruentatus
Speckled hind, Epinephelus drummondhayi
Yellowedge grouper, Epinephelus flavolimbatus
Coney, Epinephelus fulvus
Red hind, Epinephelus guttatus
Goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara
Red grouper, Epinephelus morio
Misty grouper, Epinephelus mystacinus
Warsaw grouper, Epinephelus nigritus
Snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus
Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus
Black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci
Yellowmouth grouper, Mycteroperca interstitialis
Gag, Mycteroperca microlepis
Scamp, Mycteroperca phenax
Yellowfin grouper, Mycteroperca venenosa
Serranidae--Sea Basses
Black sea bass, Centropristis striata
Sparidae--Porgies
Jolthead porgy, Calamus bajonado
Saucereye porgy, Calamus calamus
[[Page 11507]]
Whitebone porgy, Calamus leucosteus
Knobbed porgy, Calamus nodosus
Red porgy, Pagrus pagrus
Scup, Stenotomus chrysops
The following species are designated as ecosystem component
species:
Cottonwick, Haemulon melanurum
Bank sea bass, Centropristis ocyurus
Rock sea bass, Centropristis philadelphica
Longspine porgy, Stenotomus caprinus
Ocean triggerfish, Canthidermis sufflamen
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-04808 Filed 3-3-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P