NMFS issues this final rule to implement management measures described in Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This rule removes the income qualification requirements for renewal of Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) commercial reef fish permits and increases the maximum crew size to four for dual-permitted vessels (i.e. vessels that possess both a charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish and a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish) that are fishing commercially. The intent of this rule is to remove permit requirements that NMFS views as no longer applicable to current commercial fishing practices and to improve safety-at-sea in the Gulf reef fish fishery.

This rule is effective November 19, 2012.

Remote operated vehicles deployed from the offshore construction vessel Skandi Neptune collected oil samples on Wednesday (10-17-12) from the underwater site of the Deepwater Horizon incident to determine the source of a surface sheen discovered last month.

The samples were taken after the ROV video showed apparent oil globules leaking from the containment dome at approximately 15 globules per minute, which is estimated to be less than 100 gallons per day.

Southeast Region Headboat Survey celebrates 40 years, looks forward to future improvements 

As the Southeast Region Headboat Survey (SRHS) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, MRIP projects are underway to incorporate new technologies that will strengthen the accuracy and timeliness of the data it collects. MRIP is working with the SRHS to move away from paper logbooks to survey-wide electronic logbook reporting by conducting a pilot project to look at the best methods to make this transition. MRIP and the SRHS are also working together on an ongoing project to develop a method for validating self-reported catch data from headboats. To read more about both projects, please visit a database of all MRIP-funded projects at  https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/mdms/public/public.jsp.

 The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of its Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) Thursday, November 8, 2012, via webinar. The webinar will begin at 1 pm and will conclude by 5 pm.

The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSCs will meet jointly to review an analysis of the 2012 red snapper overharvest.

Corey Dolan of Tallahassee celebrated landing a 12.3-pound largemouth bass on Lake Talquin and released it Tuesday afternoon to become the first entrant in the Florida TrophyCatch program. TrophyCatch is an innovative program initiated Oct. 1 by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to reward anglers for being great resource stewards by legally catching and releasing trophy largemouth bass.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold their meeting on Monday, October 29-Thursday, November 1, 2012.

 The meeting will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, 1600 East Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, MS 39501; telephone: (228) 864-4310.

NMFS announces that the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 38 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 38 proposes to modify post-season accountability measures (AMs) that affect shallow-water grouper species (SWG), change the trigger for AMs, and revise the Gulf reef fish framework procedure.

Written comments must be received on or before December 11, 2012.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene Public Hearings on two proposed actions to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan.  Reef Fish Amendment 37 proposes modifications to the gray triggerfish rebuilding plan including modifications to the annual catch limits and annual catch targets for the commercial and recreational sectors.  Proposed commercial management measures needed to meet the reduction in the annual catch limit and annual catch target for gray triggerfish include establishing a fixed closed season and a trip limit.  Proposed recreational management measures include establishing a fixed closed season and modifying the recreational bag limit for gray triggerfish within the 20-reef fish aggregate bag limit.  This amendment also includes proposed modifications to the recreational accountability measures to allow NOAA Fisheries Service to close the recreational sector once the annual catch target is reached or projected to be reached, and if the annual catch limit is exceeded, to apply an overage adjustment by reducing the annual catch limit and optional annual catch target the following fishing season.

Samples of oil taken from a sheen above the site of the sunken Deepwater Horizon oil rig and BP's Macondo 252 well matches oil released from the well during the 2010 spill, the U.S. Coast Guard announced late Wednesday (10-11-12). The Coast Guard has informed BP and Transocean, owner of the sunken Deepwater Horizon oil rig, that they may be held financially liable for the new oil."The exact source of the sheen is uncertain at this time but could be residual oil associated with wreckage and/or debris left on the seabed from the Deepwater Horizon incident in 2010, said a news release issued by Coast Guard Capt. Duke Walker, who is the Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the spill.

The Parasail Safety Council, which tracks injuries and deaths nationwide, reports more than 70 people have been killed and at least 1,600 injured between 1982 and 2012, out of an estimated 150 million parasail rides during those 30 years.