Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Management Measures

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NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement actions identified in a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 9) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would reduce the recreational bag limit for black sea bass, establish a split season for the black sea bass commercial quota, increase the commercial trip limit for greater amberjack, and establish commercial trip limits for vermilion snapper and gag. This rule also proposes a minor revision to the mailing address for the NMFS Southeast Regional Administrator (RA). The intended effect of this proposed rule is to help prevent overfishing of black sea bass, gag, and vermilion snapper while achieving optimum yield (OY) by reducing the rate of harvest of these three species, to achieve OY for greater amberjack, and to implement a technical correction to the regulations.