National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 29, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings for red snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2019 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on August 30, 2019. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Monkfish Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Waters (Amendment 18), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would modify the target reduction goal for juvenile red snapper mortality in the Federal Gulf penaeid shrimp trawl fishery, and would modify the FMP framework procedures. The purposes of Amendment 18 are to promote economic stability, to achieve optimum yield in the Federal Gulf shrimp fishery by reducing effort constraints, and to equitably distribute the benefits from red snapper rebuilding, while continuing to protect, the Gulf red snapper stock.