Browse: Departments Dates Agencies
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 648
DOCUMENT ID: [I.D. 102201F]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Suspension of surf clam minimum size limit.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fishery; Suspension of Minimum Surf Clam Size for 2002
DATES: Effective January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS suspends the minimum size limit of 4.75 inches (12.07 cm) for Atlantic surf clams for the 2002 fishing year. This action is taken under the authority of the implementing regulations for this fishery, which allow for the annual suspension of the minimum size limit based upon set criteria. The intended effect is to relieve the industry from a regulatory burden that is not necessary, as the majority of surf clams harvested are larger than the minimum size limit.
SUMMARY: Northeastern United States fisheries—; Atlantic surf clam and ocean quahog,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Section 648.72(c) of the regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries allows the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) to suspend annually, by publication of a notification in the Federal Register, the minimum size limit for Atlantic surf clams. This action may be taken unless discard, catch, and survey data indicate that 30 percent of the Atlantic surf clam resource is smaller than 4.75 inches (12.07 cm) and the overall reduced size is not attributable to harvest from beds where growth of the individual clams has been reduced because of densitydependent factors. At its July 2001, meeting, the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) voted to recommend that the
[[Page 54724]]
Regional Administrator suspend the minimum size limit. Commercial surf
clam shell length data for 2001 was analyzed using modified procedures
from what was used in 1999 and 2000. The analysis indicated that
between 2.1 to 22.2 percent of the samples taken overall were composed
of surf clams that were less than 4.75 inches (12.07 cm). Based on
these data, the Regional Administrator adopts the Council's
recommendation and suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surf clams from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002.
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: October 24, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0127312 Filed 102901; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Walter J. Gardiner, Fishery Management Specialist, 9782819326.
Common CFR Searches
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 47 CFR Part 73 50 CFR Part 17 33 CFR Part 117 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 50 CFR Part 622 26 CFR Part 301 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 50 CFR Part 660 44 CFR Part 65 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 40 CFR Part 271 47 CFR Part 64 50 CFR Part 665 47 CFR Part 76 50 CFR Part 229 14 CFR Part 23 14 CFR Part 25 21 CFR Part 522