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

This interim rule implements changes to the availability of the recreational red snapper quota and the procedures that allow the recreational and commercial quotas to be taken. Specifically, it makes available 2.94 million-lb (1.33 million-kg) of the recreational quota to recreational fishermen beginning January 1, 1998; reserves 3.12 million lb (1.42 million kg) of the red snapper total allowable catch (TAC), which may be made available on September 1, 1998; establishes a procedure for releasing the reserved TAC on September 1, 1998, based on observed efficiency of BRDs used in shrimp trawls and apportioned between the recreational and commercial fisheries; and reduces the 5- fish red snapper bag limit to 4 fish. The 3.06 million-lb (1.39 million-kg) commercial quota was available on February 1, 1998. The intended effect is to reduce overfishing of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.