Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Accountability Measures and Commercial Closures for Two Snapper-Grouper Species and Two Snapper-Grouper Species Complexes in the South Atlantic

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial sector of two snapper-grouper species and two snapper- grouper species complexes in the South Atlantic for the 2012 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that the respective annual catch limit (ACLs) for the deep-water complex (including yellowedge grouper, blueline tilefish, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, and blackfin snapper), as well as the porgy complex (including jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, whitebone porgy, scup, and saucereye porgy) will have been reached by September 8, 2012. NMFS has determined that the respective ACLs for yellowtail snapper and gray triggerfish will have been reached by September 11, 2012. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for these two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper species complexes in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. This closure is necessary to protect the snapper-grouper resource.