Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 (Abbreviated Framework 2) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule revises the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs) for vermilion snapper and black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. The purpose of this final rule is to respond to the results of the latest stock assessments for the species and to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for vermilion snapper and black sea bass. Additionally, this final rule serves to announce the length of the South Atlantic black sea bass recreational fishing season for the 2019-2020 fishing year. NMFS announces that the length of the recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the Council's jurisdiction of the EEZ of the South Atlantic will extend throughout the species' April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020, recreational fishing year.