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Published: August 9, 2010
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NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is seeking public comment on Amendment 17A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 17A), which addresses overfishing of red snapper in the South Atlantic.

Actions contained in Amendment 17A include:

• Annual catch limit and accountability measures for South Atlantic red snapper;

• A rebuilding plan for red snapper;

• A prohibition on all harvest and possession of South Atlantic red snapper;

• An area closure off southern Georgia and northern Florida where fishing for all snapper-grouper species would be prohibited, except when using spearfishing gear or black sea bass pots to fish for species other than red snapper;

• A requirement for circle hooks in the snapper-grouper fishery north of 28˚ latitude; and

• A requirement for a program to monitor red snapper.



Request for Comments

Written comments on Amendment 17A must be received no later than September 27, 2010, in order to be considered by NOAA Fisheries Service. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.

Addresses

Electronic copies of Amendment 17A may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Service Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov, the e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov docket number NOAA-NMFS-2010-0035, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Web site at

http://www.safmc.net, or for hard copies contact:

NOAA Fisheries Service

Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

• More information, including Frequently Asked Questions, on Amendment 17A can be found online at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.



You may submit comments by the following methods:

• Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov using the following docket ID in the search box: NOAA-NMFS-2010-0035. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

• Mail: Kate Michie

NOAA Fisheries Service

Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505


source: NOAA Fisheries Service
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