![](media/image1.png){width="0.7430555555555556in" height="0.75in"}

## 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Peter Hood Peter.Hood@noaa.gov December 14, 2007

727/824-5305, FAX 727/824-5308 FB07-051

**NOAA Fisheries Service is Seeking Comments on a Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for the Gulf of Mexico Greater
Amberjack and Gray Triggerfish Fisheries**

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service)
requests comments from the public on the DSEIS developed to analyze the
impacts of proposed management actions addressing overfishing of greater
amberjack and gray triggerfish. The Environmental Protection Agency
announced the availability of the DSEIS on December 14, 2007 (72 FR
71138).

The Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack stock is overfished and undergoing
overfishing. Although the stock has been under a rebuilding plan since
2003, it is not recovering as projected. Action is necessary to end
overfishing, and adjust total allowable catch and harvest controls to
bring the rebuilding plan back on course for recovery by 2012. The gray
triggerfish stock is undergoing overfishing, and is approaching the
overfished condition. Action is necessary to set total allowable catch
and harvest controls to end overfishing, to set management targets and
thresholds, and to set a rebuilding plan.

The primary purpose of the DSEIS prepared by NOAA Fisheries Service is
to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative regulatory measures for the
following actions relating to greater amberjack: 1) Modify the
rebuilding plan; 2) develop accountability measures for the rebuilding
plan; and 3) change the recreational and commercial harvest controls
(i.e., size limits, bag limits, trip limits, or seasons).

This DSEIS also evaluates the effectiveness of alternative regulatory
measures for the following actions relating to gray triggerfish: 1)
Establish minimum stock size and fishing mortality thresholds and set
optimum yield; 2) develop a rebuilding plan; 3) develop accountability
measures for the rebuilding plan; 4) manage the fishery on a regional
basis; and 5) change the recreational and commercial harvest controls.

The regulatory measures evaluated in this DSEIS may be implemented
through Amendment 30A to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's
Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

DATES and ADDRESSES: Written comments must be received no later than 5
p.m., eastern time, on January 28, 2008. You may submit comments by any
of the following methods:

● E-mail: 0648-AV34.DSEIS@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the
following document identifier: 0648-AV34-DSEIS.

● Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue
South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.

● Fax: 727-824-5308, Attention: Peter Hood.

Copies of the DSEIS are available in electronic format from the NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office at
[http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov](http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/), or in printed
form by contacting Peter Hood (address above).

**How Can We Improve These Fishery Bulletins?**

If you have any suggestions on how we may improve the contents of future
fishery bulletins please contact:

Kim Amendola, Communication Specialist,

Phone: 727-551-5707, FAX: 727-824-5320,

e-mail: [sero.communications.comments@noaa.gov]{.underline}.

If you would like to receive these fishery bulletins via e-mail as soon
as they are published, please e-mail us at the address below. You will
still receive a hard copy of these bulletins through the mail.

E-mail: [SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov]{.underline} and include:
(1) \"Request for Electronic Fishery Bulletins\" in the subject line;
and (2) your preferred e-mail address in the body of the e-mail.