National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 10, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects that commercial landings for vermilion snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the January 1 through June 30, 2015, fishing period on April 15, 2015. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on April 15, 2015, and it will remain closed until the start of the July 1 through December 31, 2015, fishing period. This closure is necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a workshop in conjunction with a joint meeting of the Council's Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Advisory Panel and Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel. The purpose of the workshop is to refine spatial alternatives for deep sea coral protection zones for inclusion the Council's Deep Sea Corals Amendment.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to review recent fishery performance and develop Fishery Performance Reports and/or other recommendations for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish fisheries in preparation for the Council's setting of MSB specifications at the June 2015 Council meeting.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meeting to review the Pacific mackerel stock assessment.