Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 13

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NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). Amendment 13 extends the red snapper vessel permit endorsement and trip limit system until implementation of either the individual transferrable quota (ITQ) system approved under Amendment 8 to the FMP or an alternate program to restrict access to the commercial red snapper fishery, such as a limited license system. If neither option is possible, the vessel permit endorsement and trip limit system terminates on December 31, 1997. The intended effects of this rule are to stabilize the fishery and to provide for controlled harvest until a more comprehensive controlled access plan can be implemented.