Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Essential Fish Habitat for Species in the South Atlantic; Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region (Coral FMP)

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP. This final rule increases the size of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) and incorporates two adjacent areas within the Oculina Bank HAPC. Within these areas, fishing with bottom longline, bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap is prohibited. Furthermore, fishing vessels may not anchor, use an anchor and chain, or use a grapple and chain in these areas. This final rule also implements regulatory changes to reflect the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council's) proposed framework procedure for all its fishery management plans (FMPs) that allows for timely modification of definitions of essential fish habitat (EFH) and establishment or modification of EFH-HAPCs and Coral HAPCs. The intended effect is to protect, conserve, and enhance EFH.