Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Revisions to Sea Turtle Release Gear; Amendment 49

NMFS implements management measures described in Amendment 49 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) (Amendment 49), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule adds three new devices to the Federal regulations as options for fishermen with Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permits for Gulf reef fish to meet existing requirements for carrying sea turtle release gear on board vessels, and updates the regulations to simplify and clarify the requirements for other sea turtle release gear. This final rule also modifies the FMP framework procedure to allow for future changes to release gear and handling requirements for sea turtles and other protected resources. The purpose of this final rule is to allow the use of new devices to safely handle and release incidentally captured sea turtles, clarify existing requirements, and streamline the process for making any future changes to the release devices and handling procedures for sea turtles and other protected species.