Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; Amendment 36

NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 36 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule modifies the FMP framework procedures to allow spawning special management zones (SMZs) to be established or modified through the framework process; establishes spawning SMZs off North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida; establishes transit and anchoring provisions in the spawning SMZs; and establishes a sunset provision for most of the spawning SMZs. This final rule also moves the boundary of the existing Charleston Deep Artificial Reef Marine Protected Area (MPA). The purpose of this final rule is to protect spawning snapper-grouper species and the habitat where they spawn, and to reduce bycatch and bycatch mortality for snapper-grouper species, including speckled hind and warsaw grouper.