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

NMFS issues this final rule to implement the provisions of a regulatory amendment prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) in accordance with framework procedures for adjusting management measures of the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). For the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the regulatory amendment: Changes the opening date for the 1997 fall commercial fishing season from September 15 to September 2; restricts the harvest of red snapper during the 1997 fall commercial season to an initial period of September 2 to September 15 and, thereafter, to a period from the first to the 15th of each month until the commercial fishery is closed (all openings and closings will be at noon on the date indicated); establishes a recreational fishery quota; and authorizes the Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, to close the recreational fishery for red snapper in the EEZ when the recreational quota is reached or is projected to be reached. The intended effect of this action is to maximize economic benefits from the fishery, and to comply with a requirement of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) that separate Gulf red snapper recreational and commercial fishing quotas be established that result in fishery closures when quotas are taken.