Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Lane Snapper Management Measures

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in a framework action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule modifies catch limits in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for lane snapper. The purpose of this final rule and the framework action is to modify the annual catch limit (ACL), to revise an accountability measure (AM), and to achieve optimum yield (OY) for the stock while preventing overfishing. This final rule also makes minor administrative changes to replace outdated NMFS website addresses and language about required software for the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) programs. Additionally, this final rule reopens the harvest of lane snapper for the commercial and recreational sectors as a result of the ACL increase.