Federal Register #0648-BO36

NOAA NMFS Proposed Regulatory Changes for South Atlantic Black Sea Bass Management

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking public comment on proposed regulatory changes for managing black sea bass in South Atlantic Federal waters. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Scope of Proposed Rule: - Revises management measures for black sea bass under Regulatory Amendment 37 - Establishes a commercial annual catch target (ACT) of 48,557 pounds - Updates accountability measures (AMs) to trigger fishery closures when ACT is reached - Implements a seasonal spawning closure for both commercial and recreational sectors during February and March - Impacted Parties: - Federally permitted commercial fishing vessels - For-hire vessels (charter and headboats) - Dealers and recreational anglers indirectly affected - Unique Requirements: - Focused on preventing overfishing and promoting long-term stock health - No product or service procurement; this is a regulatory action - OEMs and Vendors: - No OEMs or vendors are involved, as this is not a procurement opportunity

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking public comment on proposed regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 37 under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. The amendment proposes revisions to management measures for black sea bass in South Atlantic Federal waters to address declining abundance and landings. Proposed measures include establishing a commercial annual catch target, revising accountability measures, and instituting a seasonal spawning closure for commercial and recreational sectors. The goal is to prevent overfishing and promote long-term stock health while stock assessments and longer-term actions are developed.

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