Final Amendment to the FMPs for: Reef Fish (Amendment 25) and Coastal Migratory Pelagics (Amendment 17) for Extending the Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit Moratorium Including SEIS/RIR/IRFA

Amendments establishing the charter vessel/headboat permit moratorium for the CMP fishery (Amendment 14) and the reef fish fishery (Amendment 20) were approved by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on May 6, 2003, and implemented on June 16, 2003 (68 FR 26280). The intended effect of these amendments was to cap the number of for-hire vessels operating in these two fisheries at the current level (as of March 29, 2001) while the Council evaluated whether limited access programs were needed to permanently constrain effort. The moratorium is set to expire June 16, 2006. In this amendment, the Council is considering whether to let the moratorium expire, extend the moratorium for a finite time period (5 or 10 years), or establish an indefinite limited access program. The Council has selected as their preferred alternative to establish an indefinite limited access program. 2005 Award No. NA04NMF4410020 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) SER (Southeast Region) SEFSC (Southeast Fisheries Science Center) Submitted https://doi.org/10.25923/js8t-jk11 Public Domain 1862