Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Snapper-Grouper Management Measures

NMFS issues this final rule to implement a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 11), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This rule removes the harvest and possession prohibition of six deep- water snapper-grouper species (snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, queen snapper, and silk snapper) from depths greater than 240 ft (73 m) in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The intent of this final rule is to maintain the biological protection to speckled hind and warsaw grouper as well as reduce the socio-economic impacts to fishermen harvesting deep-water snapper-grouper in the South Atlantic.