Comprehensive Acceptable Biological Catch Control Rule Amendment

The Comprehensive ABC Control Rule Amendment would modify the ABC control rules, allow phase-in of ABC changes, allow carry-over of unharvested portion of the annual catch limit (ACL), and modify framework procedures to implement carry-overs of ACLs when allowed for the three FMPs. The intent of the amendment is to provide additional flexibility within current statutory limits to address fishery management issues, incorporate scientific uncertainty and management risk in the ABC Control Rules, modify the approach used to determine the acceptable risk of overfishing, and prioritize the use of stock rebuilding plans for overfished stocks. The Comprehensive ABC Control Rule Amendment is in accordance with the 2016 revisions to the National Standard 1 guidelines and the 2020 NMFS guidance on carry-over and phase-in provisions. The Comprehensive ABC Control Rule Amendment and its proposed rule would not change the current ABC levels for all the species under the Snapper-Grouper, Dolphin and Wahoo, and Golden Crab FMPs. There are no potential significant impacts and no known problems with the project.