Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Closure for Hogfish in the Florida Keys/East Florida Area of the South Atlantic

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the hogfish commercial sector in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic for the Florida Keys/East Florida (FLK/EFL) stock for the 2018 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS estimates commercial hogfish landings for the FLK/EFL hogfish stock for the 2018 fishing year will reach the annual catch limit (ACL) on November 16, 2018. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for the FLK/EFL hogfish stock in the South Atlantic EEZ on November 16, 2018, through the remainder of the 2018 fishing year. This closure is necessary to protect the hogfish resource in the FLK/EFL region of the South Atlantic.