Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Special Management Zones

In accordance with the framework procedure of the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), NMFS establishes 10 special management zones (SMZs) at the sites of artificial reefs (ARs) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off South Carolina in which fishing will be restricted to handline, rod and reel, and spearfishing gear (excluding powerheads) and prohibits the use of powerheads in the Ft. Pierce Offshore Reef (Offshore Reef) SMZ. The intended effect is to promote orderly use of the fishery resources on and around the ARs, to reduce potential user- group conflicts, and to maintain the socioeconomic benefits of the ARs to the maximum extent practicable.