Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Revision of the Charter Vessel and Headboat Permit Moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico

NMFS issues this emergency rule to extend certain permit- related deadlines contained in the final rule implementing the charter vessel/headboat permit moratorium for reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic fish in the Gulf of Mexico and to make minor logistical adjustments consistent with those deadline extensions, e.g., extend effectiveness of some existing permits. Moratorium permit deadlines extended by this rule include the December 16, 2002, deadline for having a moratorium permit aboard vessels operating in these fisheries; and the deadline for a decision regarding appeals related to eligibility. These actions are necessary to ensure that participants with valid permits in these fisheries are able to continue to participate in these fisheries pending resolution of an eligibility criterion issue in the amendments and final rule implementing the permit moratorium. That eligibility criterion issue will be addressed subsequently through the normal rulemaking process that will include additional public comment. The intended effect is to maintain continuity in these fisheries until an issue regarding permit eligibility under the moratorium can be resolved.