Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

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NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze management alternatives to be included in Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 40). Amendment 40 will consider alternatives to define private and for-hire components of the recreational red snapper fishery and allocate red snapper resources between these components. The purpose of Amendment 40 is to increase the stability for the for-hire component, provide a basis for increased flexibility in future management of the recreational sector, and reduce the chance for recreational quota overruns which could affect rebuilding of the red snapper stock. The purpose of this NOI is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS, as specified in this notice. The Council will continue to take comments on this action as it develops Amendment 40. The next Council meeting where public comment is scheduled will be February 3-7, 2014, at the Westin Galleria Houston, 5060 W. Alabama Street, Houston, TX 77056.