Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 7

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). This final rule establishes a Federal trap limitation program for the commercial stone crab fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Florida's west coast, including the area off Monroe County, FL (i.e., the management area) that complements the stone crab trap limitation program implemented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). The Federal program recognizes the FFWCC's license, trap certificates, and trap tags for use in the EEZ in lieu of a Federal permit, but would not require them in addition to a Federal permit. Under the Federal program, a person who meets the Federal eligibility requirements and who does not possess the license and trap certificates required by the FFWCC could be issued a Federal vessel permit, a trap certificate, and trap tags valid in the EEZ only. Amendment 7 also revises the Protocol and Procedure for an Enhanced Cooperative Management System (Protocol) consistent with Florida's constitutional revisions that transferred authority for implementation of fishery-related rules from the Governor and Cabinet to the FFWCC. The intended effect is to establish a Federal program that complements and enhances the effectiveness of the FFWCC's trap limitation program and, thereby, helps to reduce overcapitalization in the stone crab fishery.