Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Closure of the 2004 Shallow-Water Grouper Commercial Fishery

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NMFS closes the commercial fishery for shallow-water grouper (black, gag, red, red hind, rock hind, scamp, yellowfin, and yellowmouth) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. This closure is in response to NMFS's determination that the red grouper quota for the commercial fishery will be reached by November 15, 2004. Existing regulations require closure of the entire shallow-water grouper fishery when either the red grouper quota or shallow-water grouper quota is reached. This closure is necessary to protect the shallow-water grouper resource.