NMFS issues this final rule to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 35 (Framework 35) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to exempt a fishery from the Gulf of Maine (GOM)/Georges Bank (GB) Regulated Mesh Area mesh size regulations and closed area restrictions. Framework 35 establishes an exempted small mesh

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the summer flounder commercial quota available to the State of New Jersey has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in New Jersey for the remainder of calendar year 2000, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document contains corrections to the DATES section of the 2000 specifications that was published on May 24, 2000.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS implements specifications and seasonal trip limits for fishing year 2000 (May 1, 2000, through April 30, 2001) for the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) fishery. This action establishes a total quota for the 2000 fishing year and sets aside a portion of the total quota for vessels participating in spiny dogfish exempted fishing projects. This

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS corrects the 2000 commercial summer flounder quota allocated to the State of Maryland. This action complies with the regulations that implement the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP), which specify that summer flounder landings in excess of a given state's individual commercial quota be

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes recreational measures for the 2000 summer flounder and black sea bass fisheries. The implementing regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the upcoming fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of these measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will hold public hearings to allow for input on the public hearing draft of Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This amendment will detail the fishing impacts to summer flounder,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 2day public meeting on July 26 and 27, 2000, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the directed fishery for Loligo squid in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be closed effective September 7, 2000. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) per trip of Loligo squid for the remainder of the year. This action is necessary to prevent the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues proposed quotas for the Atlantic surf clam, ocean quahog, and Maine mahogany ocean quahog fisheries for 2001. Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to propose for public comment specifications for the 2001 fishing year. The intent of this action is to propose allowable harvest levels of Atlantic surf clams and ocean

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the black sea bass commercial quota available in the Quarter 2 period to the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina has been harvested. Commercial vessels may not land black sea bass in the Northeast Region for the remainder of the 2000 Quarter 2 quota period (through June 30, 2000). Regulations governing the black

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS publishes additional adjustments to the 2000 commercial summer flounder and black sea bass quotas. This action complies with the regulations that implement the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP), which specifies that summer flounder landings in excess of a given state's individual

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that at least 759 metric tons (mt) of Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod have been landed as of July 31, 2000. Therefore, pursuant to regulations governing the Northeast multispecies fishery, the area identified as the Cashes Ledge Closure Area will be

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the cancellation of two public hearings that had dates and locations yet to be determined by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and held in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island on the public hearing draft of Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The intent

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS amends the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its implementing regulations to revise the objective to be achieved by the annual specifications for the 2001 summer flounder fishery from obtaining a fishing mortality rate (F) target to obtaining a biomass (B) target and to require that, if a 2000 state

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Transportation Department

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

On April 24, 2000, NMFS published a final rule implementing Framework Adjustment 33 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The final rule implementing Framework Adjustment 33 contained errors. The effective date of the increase in the haddock landing limit specified in Sec. 648.86(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and the paragraph numbering of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the spiny dogfish commercial quota available in Period 2 to the coastal states from Maine through Florida has been harvested. Therefore, the spiny dogfish fishery will remain closed and commercial vessels may not land spiny dogfish from Maine through Florida through April 24, 2001. Regulations governing the spiny dogfish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the scup commercial quota available in the summer period to the coastal states from Maine to North Carolina has been harvested. Federallypermitted commercial vessels may not land scup in these states for the remainder of the 2000 summer quota period (through October 31, 2000). Regulations governing the scup fishery require

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues regulations to modify the GRAs that were established in the MidAtlantic Bight to reduce scup bycatch in small mesh fisheries; exempt Atlantic mackerel fishing from all of the GRA restrictions and Loligo squid fishing from the November 1 through December 31, 2000, GRA restrictions; modify the procedure and criteria for exempting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that it is terminating the current deferral of IVR reporting requirements of Atlantic cod for a 2month period, beginning May 28, 2000, and ending July 31, 2000. One of the management measures for Atlantic cod includes two conditional 1month closures in the Gulf of Maine (GOM). If the preliminary landings of GOM cod from May 1, 2000,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to modify the GRAs that were established in the MidAtlantic Bight to reduce scup bycatch in small mesh fisheries; exempt Atlantic mackerel fishing from all of the GRA restrictions, and Loligo squid fishing from the November 1 December 31, 2000, GRA restrictions; modify the procedure and criteria for exempting smallmesh

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the spiny dogfish commercial quota available in period 1 to the coastal states from Maine through Florida has been harvested. Commercial vessels may not land spiny dogfish from Maine through Florida for the remainder of the 2000 quota period 1 (through October 31, 2000). Regulations governing the spiny dogfish fishery require

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the summer flounder commercial quota available to the State of North Carolina has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in North Carolina for the remainder of calendar year 2000, unless additional quota becomes available through a

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues these final quotas for the Atlantic surf clam, ocean quahog, and Maine mahogany quahog fisheries for the 2000 fisheries. This action is necessary to comply with the regulations governing these fisheries that require NMFS to publish annual quotas for each species for each fishing year. The intent of this action is to specify allowable

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration