Book Description
"Amendment 17B contains actions to establish annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for nine snapper-grouper species (speckled hind, warsaw grouper, snowy grouper, golden tilefish, black sea bass, black grouper, red grouper, gag, vermilion snapper). Additionally, Amendment 17B would establish commercial and recreational allocations for golden tilefish, and implement several management measures intended to prevent harvest from exceeding the specified ACLs. Also included in Amendment 17B are revisions to the current framework procedure for specifying total allowable catch for snapper-grouper species. Modifications to the framework would include allowing adjustments to ACLs and AMs, and allow for the specification of and adjustments to annual catch targets if new scientific information indicates a change is needed. In view of the information presented in the supporting environmental assessment (EA) prepared for Amendment 17B, NOAA Fisheries Service has determined the proposed actions contained in the subject amendment would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment as described above and in the supporting EA"--Cover letter.