Notice2022-28478
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings
Primary source
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Published
January 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold six in-person public hearings and one public hearing via webinar pertaining to Regulatory Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. This framework amendment considers revisions to South Atlantic red snapper catch levels following the most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 73) and fishing gear changes intended to reduce dead discards throughout the snapper grouper fishery.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65-66]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28478]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC632]
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold six in-person public hearings and one public hearing via webinar
pertaining to Regulatory Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
This framework amendment considers revisions to South Atlantic red
snapper catch levels following the most recent stock assessment (SEDAR
73) and fishing gear changes intended to reduce dead discards
throughout the snapper grouper fishery.
DATES: The in-person public hearings will be held January 17, 18, 19,
24, 25, and 26, 2023. The webinar public hearing will be held January
31, 2023. All hearings will begin at 6 p.m., EST.
ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information
Officer, SAFMC; phone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10;
fax: (843) 769-4520; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#167d7f7b387f607364657978566577707b7538787362"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="204b494d0e49564552534f4e605341464d430e4e4554">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting addresses:
January 17, 2023--Richmond Hill City Center, 520 Cedar Street, Richmond
Hill, GA 31324; Phone: (912) 445-0043;
January 18, 2023--Town & Country Inn and Suites, 2008 Savannah Hwy,
Charleston, SC 29407; Phone: (843) 571-1000;
January 19, 2023--The Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell Street,
Morehead City, NC 28557; Phone: (252) 247-3883;
January 24, 2023--Hyatt Place Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center, 4742
Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32246; Phone: (904) 641-7200;
January 25, 2023--City of Cocoa Civic Center, 430 Delannoy Ave, Cocoa
Beach, FL 32922; Phone: (321) 639-3500;
January 26, 2023--Holiday Inn Key Largo, 99701 Overseas Highway, Key
Largo, FL 33037 Phone: (305) 451-2121; and
January 31, 2023--This hearing will be held via webinar. Registration
is required. Information, including a link to the webinar registration
will be posted on the Council's website at: <a href="https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/">https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/</a> as it becomes available.
Public hearing documents, an online public comment form, and other
materials will be posted to the Council's website at <a href="https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/">https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/</a> as they become available. Written comments
should be addressed to John Carmichael, Executive Director, SAFMC, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. Written comments
must be received by February 3, 2023, by 5 p.m. During the hearings
Council staff will provide an overview of actions being considered in
the amendment. Staff will answer clarifying questions on the presented
information and the proposed actions. Following the presentation and
questions, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments on
the amendment.
Regulatory Amendment 35 to the Snapper Grouper FMP
Regulatory Amendment 35 considers revisions to South Atlantic red
snapper catch levels following the most recent stock assessment (SEDAR
73) and gear changes intended to reduce dead discards throughout the
snapper grouper fishery. SEDAR 73 indicated the stock is overfished and
overfishing is occurring, primarily due to high numbers of recreational
dead discards of red snapper. The Council is required to revise the
acceptable biological catch to be based on the Scientific and
Statistical Committee's (SSC) most recent recommendations, which are
based on SEDAR 73.
The Council is also required to end overfishing of red snapper.
Given that the vast majority of red snapper fishing-related mortality
is attributed to recreational dead discards and given the multi-species
nature of the South Atlantic snapper grouper fishery, the Council is
considering a prohibition of the use of more than one separate hook per
line while recreationally fishing for snapper grouper species with
natural baits. This gear change would be expected to reduce
recreational catch and discarding of snapper grouper species overall,
thus reducing dead discards and addressing overfishing of red snapper.
The actions considered in this amendment in addition to increased
outreach and education efforts for best fishing practices, and other
longer-term management actions currently under development, are
collectively expected to end overfishing of red snapper.
Special Accommodations
These hearings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the
Council office (see ADDRESSES) 5 days prior to the hearing.
Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject
to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 66]]
Dated: December 27, 2022.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-28478 Filed 12-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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