NMFS and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze management alternatives for Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed plan aims to stabilize the for-hire component of the recreational red snapper fishery, increase flexibility in future management, and reduce the risk of quota overruns that could harm the red snapper stock.