NOAA Seeks Public Comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to Reallocate the Commercial and Recreational Harvest of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a draft environmental impact statement for Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering an action to reallocate the red snapper harvest between the commercial and recreational sectors. The purpose is to reallocate the red snapper harvest consistent with the 2015 red snapper assessment update to ensure the allowable catch and recovery benefits are fairly and equitably allocated between the commercial and recreational sectors. The Council is considering commercial:recreational allocation options ranging from the current allocation of 51:49 percent to 33.3:67.7 percent, respectively. The draft environmental impact statement analyzes the impacts of this proposed action on the human environment.

Request for Comments

NOAA Fisheries must receive comments on this draft environmental impact statement no later than July 20, 2015. You may obtain electronic copies of the draft amendment and environmental impact statement from the NOAA Fisheries Web site athttp://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2013/am28/index.html or the e-Rule Making Portal (see below).

Addresses

You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-0146, by either of the following methods:

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0146.
Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
Enter or attach your comments.

MAIL: Submit written comments to Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

INSTRUCTIONS: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing onhttp://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA Fisheries will accept anonymous comments (enter “N/A” in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).