Rule2025-04805
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2025 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Snowy Grouper in the South Atlantic
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 21, 2025
Effective
December 31, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters. NMFS reduces the length of the 2025 recreational fishing season to prevent landings from exceeding the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) as they did in 2024. Accordingly, NMFS announces the adjusted closure date in 2025 for the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters to protect the snowy grouper resource.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13309-13310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04805]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 231127-0277; RTID 0648-XE720]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2025 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Snowy Grouper
in the South Atlantic
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the
recreational harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters.
NMFS reduces the length of the 2025 recreational fishing season to
prevent landings from exceeding the recreational annual catch limit
(ACL) as they did in 2024. Accordingly, NMFS announces the adjusted
closure date in 2025 for the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in
South Atlantic Federal waters to protect the snowy grouper resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from June 9 through December
31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#107d7162693e66716271507e7f71713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e58884979ccb93849784a58b8a8484cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes snowy grouper and is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council and NMFS, was approved by the Secretary of Commerce,
and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) specify the 2025 recreational
ACL for snowy grouper and the recreational AMs. The recreational AM
states that if recreational landings of snowy grouper exceed its ACL,
then NMFS will reduce the recreational fishing season during the
following fishing year to prevent recreational landings from again
exceeding the recreational ACL [50 CFR 622.193(b)(2)(ii)]. On January
2, 2024, NMFS implemented the final rule for Amendment 51 to the FMP
(88 FR 83860, December 1, 2023). One of the measures implemented by
that final rule reduced the recreational ACL to 1,713 fish for 2025.
The final rule also revised the recreational AMs for the species. If
recreational landings exceed the recreational ACL, NMFS would reduce
the length of the recreational fishing season in the following year by
the amount necessary to prevent the recreational ACL from being
exceeded. Because this condition was met in 2024, NMFS is reducing the
length of the 2025 recreational season to prevent the recreational ACL
from being exceeded.
The 2025 recreational season for snowy grouper will start on May 1
and normally would continue through June 30. However, data from the
NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center have informed NMFS' projection
that recreational landings will reach the recreational ACL for 2025 by
June 9. Therefore, NMFS announces that the recreational season for
snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters will be closed beginning
on June 9 and continues through December 31, 2025. During the
recreational closure, the bag and possession limits for snowy grouper
in or from South Atlantic Federal waters are zero. The next
recreational fishing season for snowy grouper begins on May 1, 2026.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(c)(2)(ii), which
was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and
is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the rule that established the
recreational AM for snowy grouper has already been subject to public
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the
end date of the recreational season. Prior notice and opportunity for
public comment on this action is contrary to the public interest
because of the need to protect the resource of South Atlantic snowy
grouper. Additionally, providing as much advance notice to the public
of this shortened fishing season and closure allows recreational
fishermen, including businesses that operate charter vessels and
headboats, to prepare for the change to the recreational season for
snowy grouper
[[Page 13310]]
and to schedule or reschedule their trips.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Date: March 17, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04805 Filed 3-18-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 21, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.