Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 for the South Atlantic Region

NMFS proposes to implement the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 (CE-BA 2) to implement the following South Atlantic fishery management plan (FMP) amendments: Amendment 1 to the FMP for Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South Atlantic Region (Sargassum FMP); Amendment 7 to the FMP for Coral, Coral reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region (Coral FMP); and Amendment 25 to the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council); as well as Amendment 21 to the FMP for Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources (CMP FMP) as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils. If implemented, this rule would modify the fishery management unit for octocorals in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ), establish an annual catch limit (ACL) for octocorals, modify management in special management zones (SMZs) off South Carolina, and modify sea turtle and small tooth sawfish release gear specifications in the South Atlantic region. Through CE-BA 2, NMFS also proposes to designate new Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and EFH-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (EFH-HAPCs) for the Snapper-Grouper, Coral and Sargassum FMPs. The intended effects of this rule are to specify an ACL for octocorals, implement management measures to ensure overfishing does not occur for these species but that optimum yield may be achieved, and to conserve and protect habitat in the South Atlantic region.