Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Comprehensive Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the U.S. Caribbean

Résumé

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement a comprehensive amendment prepared by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) to amend its Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch, and Coral Fishery Management Plans (FMPs). The comprehensive amendment is designed to ensure the FMPs are fully compliant with the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). This proposed rule would redefine the fishery management units for the FMPs; establish seasonal closures; impose gear restrictions and requirements; revise requirements for marking pots and traps; and prohibit the filleting of fish at sea. In addition, the comprehensive amendment would establish biological reference points and stock status criteria; establish rebuilding schedules and strategies to end overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks; provide for standardized collection of bycatch data; minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality to the extent practicable; designate essential fish habitat (EFH) and EFH habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs); and minimize adverse impacts on such habitat to the extent practicable. The intended effect of this proposed rule is to achie