Federal Register: December 29, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 251)
DOCID: FR Doc 00-33223
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 648
Docket ID: [Docket No. 980414095-8240-02; I.D. 121800D]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notification of termination of the deferral of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System reporting requirements for Atlantic cod and haddock purchases.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Dealer Reporting Requirements
DATES: Effective January 28, 2001.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
NMFS announces that it is terminating the current deferral of
IVR reporting requirements of Atlantic cod and haddock beginning
January 28, 2001. One of the management measures for Atlantic cod
includes two conditional 1month closures in the Gulf of Maine (GOM)
when the trigger of 1.67 million lbs (759 mt) is reached. One
management measure for haddock is an adjustment to the daily landing
limit as specified in Framework 33 to the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to provide the industry with the opportunity to harvest
[[Page 82945]]
at least 75 percent of the total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2000
2001 fishing year (TAC=6,252 mt, 75 percent TAC=4,689 mt). If the
Regional Administrator, Northeast Regional Office, NMFS (RA) projects
that less than 75 percent of the TAC for haddock will be harvested by
the end of the fishing year NMFS may adjust, through publication of a
notification in the Federal Register, the trip limit per DAS and/or the
maximum trip limit to an amount that is determined to be sufficient to
allow harvesting of at least 75 percent of the target TAC, but not to
exceed the target TAC. This termination of deferral for Atlantic cod
and haddock is necessary to collect accurate data on a realtime basis
to ensure that these fisheries are maintained at sustainable levels.
Any dealer issued a Northeast (NE) Multispecies permit must submit,
through the IVR system, a weekly summary of Atlantic cod and haddock
purchased beginning January 28, 2001.
SUMMARY:
Northeastern United States fisheries:; Atlantic cod and haddock purchases; interactive voice response system reporting requirements,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
To effectively monitor landings of quota- managed species on a timely basis, NMFS issued a final rule (63 FR 52639, October 1, 1998) requiring federallypermitted dealers to submit a weekly summary of purchases of quotamanaged species through the IVR system within 3 days of the end of the reporting week. To minimize the burden of dealer reporting requirements, the regulations implementing the use of an IVR system also include authorization (50 CFR 648.7(a)(ii)) for the RA to defer the IVR reporting requirements for any species if landings are not expected to reach levels that would cause the applicable target exploitation rate specified in the FMP for that species to be achieved, resulting in specific management changes. At that time the RA deferred IVR reporting requirements for Atlantic mackerel, butterfish and, regulated NE Multispecies, which included Atlantic cod and haddock.
In order to effectively monitor Atlantic cod and haddock landings relative to the trigger and TAC, NMFS is requiring any dealer issued a NE Multispecies permit to submit, through the IVR system, a weekly summary of Atlantic cod and haddock purchases beginning January 28, 2001. IVR reports must be submitted within 3 days of the end of the reporting week. If the RA determines that weekly IVR reports of Atlantic cod and haddock purchases are no longer necessary, notification of deferral will be published in the Federal Register.
Dealers must continue to report through the IVR system, their purchases of the species specified in 50 CFR 648.7(a) for which IVR reporting requirements have not been deferred. Currently, these species are summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, Illex squid and Loligo squid, spiny dogfish, and Atlantic bluefish. If no purchases of any quotamanaged species are made during the reporting week, a negative report, so stating, must be submitted.
As specified in 50 CFR 648.7(a)(1), dealers must continue to report purchases of all species, including those species for which IVR reporting has been deferred, on the detailed written reports. Classification
This action is authorized by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 22, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0033223 Filed 122800; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Sandra Arvilla, (978) 281-9255 or Gregory Power, (978) 2819304.