Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Emergency Rule To Increase the Recreational Quota for Red Snapper and Suspend the Recreational Red Snapper Closure Date

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NMFS issues this emergency rule to increase the recreational quota for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2011 fishing season and suspend the October 1 closure date, as requested by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). At its May 2011 meeting, the Council's Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommended that the red snapper total allowable catch (TAC) be increased by 345,000 lb (156,489 kg). At its June 2011 meeting, the Council requested that NMFS publish an emergency rule to assign the entire 345,000 lb (156,489 kg) of additional TAC to the recreational sector and suspend the October 1 closure date of the recreational fishing season. If NMFS determines, after reviewing the data, that the recreational red snapper quota was not reached by the July 19, 2011, projected closure date, NMFS will publish a subsequent rule in the Federal Register to reopen red snapper harvest for a limited time period during the 2011 fishing season. The intent of this rulemaking is to achieve the optimum yield for the fishery, thus enhancing social and economic benefits to the fishery.