Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2, 14021-14025 [2019-06788]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14021-14025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06788]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 181019966-9244-02]
RIN 0648-BI56


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; Abbreviated 
Framework Amendment 2

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures 
described in Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 (Abbreviated Framework 
2) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of 
the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule revises 
the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs) for 
vermilion snapper and black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) of the South Atlantic. The purpose of this final rule is to 
respond to the results of the latest stock assessments for the species 
and to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for vermilion snapper and black 
sea bass. Additionally, this final rule serves to announce the length 
of the South Atlantic black sea bass recreational fishing season for 
the 2019-2020 fishing year. NMFS announces that the length of the 
recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the Council's 
jurisdiction of the EEZ of the South Atlantic will extend throughout 
the species' April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020, recreational 
fishing year.

DATES: This final rule is effective May 9, 2019. The black sea bass 
recreational season notification is effective from April 9, 2019, until 
12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2020, unless changed by subsequent 
notification in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Abbreviated Framework 2, which includes 
a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis and a regulatory impact 
review, may be obtained from www.regulations.gov or the Southeast 
Regional Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/abbreviated-framework-amendment-2-vermilion-snapper-and-black-sea-bass.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Helies, NMFS SERO, telephone: 
727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery in the South 
Atlantic region is managed under the FMP and includes vermilion snapper 
and black sea bass, along with other snapper-grouper species. The FMP 
was prepared by the Council and is implemented by NMFS through 
regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
    On February 19, 2019, NMFS published a proposed rule for

[[Page 14022]]

Abbreviated Framework 2 and requested public comment (84 FR 4758). The 
proposed rule and Abbreviated Framework 2 outline the rationale for the 
actions contained in this final rule. A summary of the management 
measures described in Abbreviated Framework 2 and implemented by this 
final rule is described below.
    All weights described in this final rule are in round weight, 
unless otherwise specified.
    In April 2018, Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) 
standard stock assessments were completed for both South Atlantic 
vermilion snapper (SEDAR 55) and black sea bass (SEDAR 56). The 
Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed both 
assessments at their May 2018 meeting, stated that they represented the 
best scientific information available, and provided the Council with 
acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for the two species. 
Based on the results of the SEDAR 55 and SEDAR 56, NMFS determined that 
neither species was overfished or undergoing overfishing.
    Recreational landings of snapper-grouper, including vermilion 
snapper and black seas bass are monitored through the Marine 
Recreational Information Program (MRIP). NMFS notes that as of January 
1, 2018, there was a change to MRIP and a change in the estimation of 
recreational fishing effort. As a result of the changes to MRIP, the 
NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) revised the vermilion 
snapper and black sea bass stock assessments (SEDAR 55 and 56) using 
the newly calibrated MRIP data. The Council's SSC reviewed the revised 
stock assessments at their October 2018 and February 2019 meetings. 
However, the SSC has not provided new ABC recommendations to the 
Council based on the revised assessments, and the SSC continues to 
discuss how to incorporate the revised MRIP data into stock 
assessments.

Management Measures Contained in This Final Rule

    This final rule revises the commercial and recreational ACLs for 
South Atlantic vermilion snapper and black sea bass based on updated 
information from stock assessments.

Vermilion Snapper

    The vermilion snapper ACL is allocated between the sectors into a 
current commercial ACL of 862,920 lb (391,414 kg) and a current 
recreational ACL of 406,080 lb (184,195 kg) that were set in Regulatory 
Amendment 18 to the FMP (78 FR 47574; September 5, 2013). The Council 
established the current sector allocations for vermilion snapper of 68 
percent commercial and 32 percent recreational in Amendment 16 to the 
FMP (74 FR 30964; July 29, 2009). This final rule does not change these 
allocations.
    Consistent with the results of SEDAR 55, and the ABC 
recommendations from the SSC subsequently accepted by the Council, this 
final rule increases the commercial and recreational ACLs for vermilion 
snapper. For the commercial sector, the ACL (commercial quota) is 
equally divided into two 6-month seasons of January through June and 
July through December each year.
    This final rule will set each commercial seasonal quota at 483,658 
lb (219,384 kg), gutted weight, 536,860 lb (243,516 kg) for the 2019 
fishing year; 452,721 lb (205,351 kg), gutted weight, 502,520 lb 
(227,939 kg) for the 2020 fishing year; 431,279 lb (195,625 kg), gutted 
weight, 478,720 lb (217,144 kg) for the 2021 fishing year; 417,189 lb 
(189,234 kg), gutted weight, 463,080 lb (210,050 kg) for the 2022 
fishing year; and 409,225 lb (185,621 kg), gutted weight, 454,240 lb 
(206,040 kg) for the 2023 and subsequent fishing years.
    This final rule will set the recreational ACL at 455,207 lb 
(206,478 kg), gutted weight, 505,280 lb (229,191 kg) for the 2019 
fishing year; 426,090 lb (193,271 kg), gutted weight, 472,960 lb 
(214,531 kg) for the 2020 fishing year; 405,910 lb (184,118 kg), gutted 
weight, 450,560 lb (204,552 kg) for the 2021 fishing year; 392,649 lb 
(178,103 kg), gutted weight, 435,840 lb (197,694 kg) for the 2022 
fishing year; and 385,520 lb (174,869 kg), gutted weight, 427,520 lb 
(193,920 kg) for the 2023 and subsequent fishing years.
    The vermilion snapper commercial sector has experienced in-season 
fishing closures every year since 2009, regardless of the amount of the 
commercial quota. If the catch rates of vermilion snapper in the 
commercial sector continue as expected, the revised seasonal quotas are 
still projected to result in an in-season closure during each of the 
two 6-month seasons as a result of the seasonal quotas being reached. 
However, the increase to the commercial ACL is expected to extend the 
commercial fishing season up to 48 days over the entire 2019 fishing 
year. NMFS expects the projected increase in the number of days for the 
commercial season to then progressively decrease each year after 2019, 
corresponding with the annual declining ACL values. By 2023, the 
revised commercial ACL is expected to result in up to 5 additional 
fishing days. NMFS does not expect the revised recreational ACL to be 
reached, and expects that the recreational sector will remain open for 
the entire fishing year.

Black Sea Bass

    The current black sea bass commercial and recreational ACLs were 
implemented in 2013 through Regulatory Amendment 19 to the FMP (78 FR 
58249; September 23, 2013). The current commercial ACL is 755,274 lb 
(342,587 kg) and the recreational ACL is 1,001,176 lb (454,126 kg).
    The ACLs are based on the sector allocation ratio developed by the 
Council for black sea bass (43 percent commercial and 57 percent 
recreational) as established in Amendment 13C to the FMP (71 FR 55096; 
October 23, 2006). This final rule does not change these allocations.
    Consistent with the results of SEDAR 56 and the ABC recommendations 
from the SSC accepted by the Council, this final rule reduces the 
commercial and recreational ACLs for black sea bass. The commercial ACL 
will be 276,949 lb (125,622 kg), gutted weight, 326,800 lb (148,234 kg) 
for the 2019 fishing year; 243,788 lb (110,580 kg), gutted weight, 
287,670 lb (130,485 kg) for the 2020 fishing year; and 234,314 lb 
(106,283 kg), gutted weight, 276,490 lb (125,414 kg) for 2021 and 
subsequent fishing years.
    Because the fishing year for the black sea bass recreational sector 
is from April 1 through March 31, the recreational ACLs are described 
as yearly combinations. The revised black sea bass recreational ACL 
will take effect during the 2019-2020 fishing year, which began on 
April 1, 2019. The current recreational ACLs that are effective for the 
2018-2019 fishing year are 848,455 lb (384,853 kg), gutted weight, 
1,001,177 lb (454,126 kg). The revised recreational ACLs are 367,119 lb 
(166,522 kg), gutted weight, 433,200 lb (196,496 kg) for the 2019-2020 
fishing year; 323,161 lb (146,583 kg), gutted weight, 381,330 lb 
(172,968 kg) for the 2020-2021 fishing year; and 310,602 lb (140,887 
kg), gutted weight, 366,510 lb (166,246 kg) for the 2021-2022 and 
subsequent fishing years.
    Since 2015, black sea bass total landings have not exceeded 40 
percent of the current combined commercial and recreational ACLs, and 
the last fishing season closures for the commercial and recreational 
sectors occurred in 2012 and 2011, respectively. Based on the projected 
future commercial landings of black sea bass for the 2019 fishing year, 
NMFS does not expect the revised commercial ACL to be reached, and 
anticipates that the

[[Page 14023]]

commercial sector will remain open for the entire fishing year. 
However, in the 2020 and 2021 fishing years, NMFS projects commercial 
in-season closures to occur during the month of November. The 
recreational sector has not experienced any recent fishing season 
closures as a result of reaching its ACL, and based on projected 
recreational landings compared to the revised ACL, NMFS does not expect 
the recreational ACL to be reached and expects that the recreational 
sector will remain open for the entire fishing year. More specifically, 
the length of 2019-2020 recreational fishing season is discussed later 
in this final rule.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 21 comments during the public comment period on the 
proposed rule for Abbreviated Framework 2. The commenters included 
individuals as well as commercial and recreational fishers and 
commercial and recreational fishing organizations. The majority of 
comments supported the increase in the vermilion snapper ACLs, and 
comments both opposed and supported the reduction in the black sea bass 
ACLs. NMFS acknowledges the comments in favor of all or part of the 
actions in Abbreviated Framework 2 and the proposed rule, and agrees 
with them; they are not further addressed below. Comments opposing the 
reduction in black sea bass ACLs and other comments that were similar 
and specifically relate to the actions in Abbreviated Framework 2 and 
the proposed rule were grouped together and are summarized and 
responded to below.
    Comment 1: The black sea bass ACLs should not be reduced as the 
population is abundant. Additionally, there are historical issues with 
the black sea bass stock assessment, and a full benchmark assessment 
that addresses the recent changes to MRIP should be completed prior to 
making any changes to black sea bass ACLs.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that the black sea bass ACLs should not be 
reduced. The latest stock assessment for South Atlantic black sea bass 
(SEDAR 56) was completed in April 2018. The Council's SSC reviewed the 
assessment, stated that the assessment represented the best scientific 
information available, and provided the Council with overfishing limits 
and ABC recommendations for the stock that result in the need to reduce 
black sea bass harvest levels. Although NMFS determined that black sea 
bass is not currently overfished or undergoing overfishing, SEDAR 56 
demonstrated a smaller stock biomass than previously calculated in the 
SEDAR 25 update (2013) assessment. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires 
all FMPs to contain ACLs that prevent overfishing. The best scientific 
information available indicates the current ACLs for the black sea bass 
stock are at levels that pose a risk of overfishing; therefore, this 
final rule reduces the sector ACLs to levels that minimize that risk. 
The Council determined that setting the total ACL for black sea bass at 
the SSC's recommended ABC levels is expected to provide biological 
benefits to the black sea bass stock. While the reduced ACLs are 
consistent with the recommended ABC levels, they are not expected to 
immediately result in actual harvest limitations. However, the reduced 
ACLs may constrain future harvest and prevent overfishing if harvest 
levels increase in the future and closures of the fishing seasons 
become necessary.
    The Council's SSC reviewed a revised version of SEDAR 56 that 
incorporated the changes to MRIP, but the SSC did not provide new catch 
level recommendations based on the revised assessment to the Council. 
NMFS has determined that Abbreviated Framework 2 and the ACLs included 
in this final rule are the best scientific information available. The 
black sea bass stock is tentatively scheduled to undergo a research 
track stock assessment in 2021. A research track stock assessment is 
similar to past benchmark assessments and would provide a comprehensive 
review of all available data and assessment methods, with the potential 
to create new assessment models. Specific benchmark assessments will no 
longer occur starting in 2020.
    Comment 2: NMFS should implement other management measures in place 
of the proposed black sea bass ACL reductions, such as reduced 
recreational bag limits, adjusted minimum size limits, and/or a 
spawning season closure. These other measures may be more effective in 
managing black sea bass harvest than ACL reductions.
    Response: While the management measures suggested during the 
proposed rule comment period could be effective at slowing or even 
reducing black sea bass harvest, they would not replace the need for 
the reductions in the black sea bass commercial and recreational ACLs. 
As explained in the response to Comment # 1, SEDAR 56 demonstrated a 
smaller stock biomass than previously calculated in the 2013 stock 
assessment, and the SSC recommended a lower ABC to the Council. The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act requires all FMPs to contain ACLs that prevent 
overfishing, and the best scientific information available indicates 
the current ACLs for the black sea bass stock are at levels that pose a 
risk of overfishing; therefore, this final rule reduces the sector ACLs 
to levels that minimize that risk. In Abbreviated Framework 2, the 
Council only considered actions to reduce the black sea bass ACLs to 
prevent overfishing of the stock in the South Atlantic. In the future, 
the Council could consider other measures, such as revisions to 
recreational bag limits, minimum size limits, and spawning season 
closures.
    Comment 3: The proposed vermilion snapper ACLs should gradually 
increase over the next 5 years as opposed to immediately increasing the 
ACLs upon implementation of the final rule and then annually decreasing 
the ACLs until 2023.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. The Council's SSC applied the Council's 
ABC control rule to the results of the latest vermilion snapper stock 
assessment (SEDAR 55). The vermilion snapper ACLs initially increase 
because the biomass of the stock is currently above levels that will 
produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). When the stock size is 
greater than the biomass that will produce MSY, it can be reduced to 
the MSY level. This is achieved by gradually reducing the ACLs over 
time, which will allow for fishing effort to reduce the stock biomass 
each year until the biomass level at MSY is reached in 2023.

Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Season Length for 2019-2020 Fishing 
Year

    This final rule also serves to announce the South Atlantic 
recreational fishing season length for the 2019-2020 fishing year, 
based on the revised black sea bass recreational ACL implemented in 
this final rule.
    The recreational fishing year for black sea bass is April 1 through 
March 31. Setting the length of recreational season for black sea bass 
is one of the AMs for the recreational sector, and was established in 
Regulatory Amendment 14 to the FMP (79 FR 66316, November 7, 2014). The 
season length AM for recreational black sea bass states that prior to 
the April 1 start of each recreational fishing year, NMFS projects the 
length of the upcoming recreational fishing season based on when NMFS 
projects the recreational ACL will be met and announces the 
recreational season end date in the Federal Register (50 CFR 
622.193(e)(2)). The purpose of this AM is to have a more predictable 
recreational season length while still constraining harvest at or below 
the recreational ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse 
biological

[[Page 14024]]

consequences. This year, as a result of delays in this rulemaking 
related to the recent lapse in appropriations for NMFS, the 
announcement for the current fishing year, via publication of this 
final rule, was not able to occur prior to April 1, 2019.
    NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2019-2020 fishing 
year will be less than current ACL and less than the 2019-2020 
recreational ACL implemented in this final rule for Abbreviated 
Framework 2. This recreational landings estimate is not connected to 
the overall timing of this fishing season announcement. To make this 
determination, NMFS compared landings in the last 3 fishing years to 
the recreational ACL for the 2019-2020 black sea bass fishing year of 
367,119 lb (166,522 kg), gutted weight, 433,200 lb (196,496 kg), round 
weight. Landings in each of the past 3 fishing years have been below 
the 2019-2020 recreational ACL. Therefore, NMFS projects the 
recreational landings in the 2019-2020 fishing year to be less than the 
2019-2020 recreational ACL. Accordingly, the recreational sector for 
black sea bass is not expected to close as a result of reaching its 
ACL, and the season end date for recreational fishing for black sea 
bass in the South Atlantic EEZ south of 35[deg]15.9' N lat. is March 
31, 2020, the end of the current fishing year.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has 
determined that this final rule is consistent with the framework 
action, the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. This rule is not an E.O. 
13771 regulatory action because this rule is not significant under E.O. 
12866.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this 
final 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 final rule.
    NMFS notes that Abbreviated Framework 2 considered only one 
alternative to increase the ACLs for vermilion snapper and one 
alternative to reduce the ACLs for black sea bass. These alternatives 
are based on the Council SSC's recommendations, in response to the 
latest stock assessments for each species, in order to achieve OY and 
prevent overfishing the stocks.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) during the proposed rule stage that this rule, if 
adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. The factual basis for this determination was 
published in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments 
from the public or SBA's Chief Counsel for Advocacy were received 
regarding the certification, and NMFS has not received any new 
information that would affect its determination. As a result, a final 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has been 
prepared.
    As noted in the preamble, this final rule also serves to announce 
that for the 2019-2020 fishing year the recreational sector for South 
Atlantic black sea bass is not expected to close prior to March 31, 
2020, as a result of the ACL reduction implemented through this final 
rule.
    The action to announce the length of the black sea bass 
recreational fishing season responds to the best scientific information 
available. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds 
that the need to immediately implement the notice of the recreational 
season length constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to 
provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the 
authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment is unnecessary. Such procedures are 
unnecessary, because the final rule to implement Regulatory Amendment 
14 that established the AM to announce the length of the season (79 FR 
66316, November 7, 2014) has already been subject to notice and 
comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the 
recreational season length. Because there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and public comment on the determination of the length of the 
fishing season, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for 
this determination and none has been prepared. In addition, the absence 
of a recreational closure and the fact that recreational anglers and 
for-hire vessels (charter vessels and headboats) are not considered 
business entities for RFA purposes, this action has no economic impacts 
on small business entities.
    Providing as much advance notice as possible to recreational black 
sea bass fishers provides the benefit of increased flexibility for 
additional time to conduct trip planning and booking of recreational 
trips. In addition, the black sea bass recreational fishing year begins 
annually on April 1, and as described in 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2), NMFS is 
required to announce the length of the recreational fishing season by 
that date. Waiving the 30-day delay in effectiveness for this measure 
will allow this notification to occur as close to April 1 as 
practicable. Additionally, the recreational season length announcement 
does not impose any requirements on recreational fishermen and no 
advance preparation is necessary. Therefore, for the aforementioned 
reasons, for the black sea bass recreational season length announcement 
specifically, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Annual catch limits, Black sea bass, Fisheries, Fishing, South 
Atlantic, Quotas, Vermilion snapper.

    Dated: April 2, 2019.
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 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 Sec.  622.190, revise paragraphs (a)(4)(i) and (ii) and (a)(5) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  622.190  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (i) For the period January through June each year.
    (A) For the 2019 fishing year--483,658 lb (219,384 kg), gutted 
weight; 536,860 lb (243,516 kg), round weight.
    (B) For the 2020 fishing year--452,721 lb (205,351 kg), gutted 
weight; 502,520 lb (227,939 kg), round weight.
    (C) For the 2021 fishing year--431,279 lb (195,625 kg), gutted 
weight; 478,720 lb (217,144 kg), round weight.
    (D) For the 2022 fishing year--417,189 lb (189,234 kg), gutted 
weight; 463,080 lb (210,050 kg), round weight.
    (E) For the 2023 and subsequent fishing years--409,225 lb (185,621 
kg), gutted weight; 454,240 lb (206,040 kg), round weight.
    (ii) For the period July through December each year.
    (A) For the 2019 fishing year--483,658 lb (219,384 kg), gutted 
weight; 536,860 lb (243,516 kg), round weight.

[[Page 14025]]

    (B) For the 2020 fishing year--452,721 lb (205,351 kg), gutted 
weight; 502,520 lb (227,939 kg), round weight.
    (C) For the 2021 fishing year--431,279 lb (195,625 kg), gutted 
weight; 478,720 lb (217,144 kg), round weight.
    (D) For the 2022 fishing year--417,189 lb (417,189 kg), gutted 
weight; 463,080 lb (210,050 kg), round weight.
    (E) For the 2023 and subsequent fishing years--409,225 lb (185,621 
kg), gutted weight; 454,240 lb (206,040 kg), round weight.
* * * * *
    (5) Black sea bass. (i) For the 2019 fishing year--276,949 lb 
(125,622 kg), gutted weight; 326,800 lb (148,234 kg), round weight.
    (ii) For the 2020 fishing year--243,788 lb (110,580 kg), gutted 
weight; 287,670 lb (130,485 kg), round weight.
    (iii) For the 2021 fishing year and subsequent fishing years--
234,314 lb (106,283 kg), gutted weight; 276,490 lb (125,414 kg), round 
weight.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  622.193, revise the first sentence of paragraph (e)(2) and 
revise paragraph (f)(2)(iv) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.193  Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), 
and accountability measures (AMs).

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) Recreational sector. The recreational ACL for black sea bass is 
848,455 lb (384,853 kg), gutted weight, 1,001,177 lb (454,126 kg), 
round weight for the 2018-2019 fishing year; 367,119 lb (166,522 kg), 
gutted weight, 433,200 lb (196,496 kg), round weight for the 2019-2020 
fishing year; 323,161 lb (146,583 kg), gutted weight, 381,330 lb 
(172,968 kg), round weight, for the 2020-2021 fishing year; and 310,602 
lb (140,887 kg), gutted weight, 366,510 lb (166,246 kg), round weight, 
for the 2021-2022 and subsequent fishing years. * * *
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iv) The recreational ACL for vermilion snapper is 455,207 lb 
(206,478 kg), gutted weight, 505,280 lb (229,191 kg), round weight, for 
the 2019 fishing year; 426,090 lb (193,271 kg), gutted weight, 472,960 
lb (214,531 kg), round weight, for the 2020 fishing year; 405,910 lb 
(184,118 kg), gutted weight, 450,560 lb (204,552 kg), round weight, for 
the 2021 fishing year; 392,649 lb (178,103 kg), gutted weight, 435,840 
lb (197,694 kg), round weight, for the 2022 fishing year; and 385,520 
lb (174,869 kg), gutted weight, 427,520 lb (193,920 kg), round weight, 
for the 2023 and subsequent fishing years.
* * * * *

[FR Doc. 2019-06788 Filed 4-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P