Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Continuation of the Madison/Swanson and Steamboat Lumps Marine Reserves

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NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 21 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 21 would continue the marine reserves at Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps for an additional 6 years and revise the fishing restrictions that apply within the reserves. The intended effects of Amendment 21 are to provide protection for spawning aggregations of gag grouper in order to prevent overfishing, continue protection of a portion of the offshore population of male gag grouper, and evaluate the effect and usefulness of marine reserves as a management tool.