Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico; Addition to FMP Framework Provisions; Stone Crab Gear Requirements

NMFS issues this final rule to implement those provisions of the Generic Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) of the Gulf of Mexico (SFA Amendment) that modify the framework regulatory adjustment procedures in the FMPs for reef fish, red drum, and coastal migratory pelagics. These FMP framework modifications allow timely addition of various stock population parameters to the appropriate FMP(s), including biomass- based estimates of minimum stock size thresholds (MSSTs), optimum yield (OY), maximum sustainable yield (MSY), stock biomass achieved by fishing at MSY (B<INF>MSY</INF>), and maximum fishing mortality thresholds (MFMTs). These regulations also revise the stone crab trap construction requirements, as proposed by the SFA Amendment. The intended effects are to provide a more timely mechanism for incorporating stock population parameters into the applicable FMPs when such information becomes available and to establish stone crab trap construction regulations that are compatible with those of the State of Florida and that will reduce finfish bycatch.