NMFS issues final specifications for the 2002 Atlantic herring fishery. The intent of the specifications is to conserve and manage the herring resource and provide for sustainable fisheries, and to comply with the provisions in the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring (FMP), which require annual specifications for the fishery. This rule

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to modify the regulations implementing Framework Adjustment 35 (Framework 35) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Framework 35 established an exempted small mesh whiting fishery in the Gulf of Maine (GOM), near Provincetown, MA. The fishery occurs from September 1 through November 20 each year

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2002 spiny dogfish fishery. This rule implements a commercial quota and possession limits for the 2002 fishing year to address overfishing of the spiny dogfish resource. This rule also makes a technical correction to the spiny dogfish regulations, to indicate that the target fishing mortality rate (F)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is currently developing Amendment 13 to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP), pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, as amended. The Council will hold a series of public hearings to solicit comments on proposals to be included in

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. Federally permitted commercial vessels may not land scup in these states for the remainder of the 2002 summer quota period (through October 31, 2002). Regulations governing the scup fishery require

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that commercial quota is available to allow the directed fishery for Loligo squid to remain open. Vessels issued a Federal moratorium permit to harvest Loligo squid in excess of the incidental catch allowance may continue landing Loligo squid after 0001 hours, December 12, 2002. The intent of this action is to allow for the full

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes an interim rule under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act) to implement additional interim measures intended to reduce overfishing on species managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This rule proposes additional restrictions specified in

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement management measures contained in Framework Adjustment 1 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This final rule modifies the annual specification of herring quota for Management Area 1A by establishing two quota periods. The intent of this final rule is to cap the landings of herring from

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2003 Atlantic herring fishery. The regulations for the Atlantic herring fishery require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of the specifications is to conserve and manage the Atlantic herring resource and provide for a sustainable

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this interim final rule to amend measures that were implemented through an interim final rule published by NMFS on April 29, 2002, in order to protect species managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) from overfishing. This interim final rule imposes additional restrictions ordered by the U.S. District

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the percentage of the tilefish annual total allowable landing (TAL) available to the Parttime category has been harvested. Commercial vessels fishing under the Parttime tilefish category may not harvest tilefish from within the golden tilefish management unit for the remainder of the 2002 fishing year (through October 31,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this notification announcing an adjustment to the 2002 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota for the State of New York. This action complies with regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Bluefish (FMP), which requires that landings in excess of a state's commercial quota be deducted from a state's respective quota

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to Connecticut from its 2002 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved. NMFS also announces that the summer flounder commercial fishery in the exclusive

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would establish: A limited access program for the directed fishery; a target total allowable catch (TAC) level; a DaysatSea (DAS) allocation effort control

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces final initial specifications for the 2002 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB); including an inseason adjustment provision for the 2002 mackerel joint venture processing (JVP) annual specification. This action also specifies a method for carrying over Loligo squid Quarter I underages into Quarter III. The

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the black sea bass commercial quota available in the Quarter 4 period to the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina has been harvested. Commercial vessels may not land black sea bass in these states north of 35[deg]15.3' N. lat. for the remainder of the 2002 Quarter 4 quota period (through December 31, 2002).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a oneday Council meeting on May 16, 2002, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a series of public hearings to solicit comments on proposals to be included in the Skate Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

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 0001 hrs local time, August 16, 2002. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of Loligo squid per trip for the remainder of the quarter. This action is necessary

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). Pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act) and the FMP, this proposed rule would establish an annual

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3day Council meeting on June 24 through 26, 2002, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS amends the regulations that implement Amendment 12 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to change the date of the Year4 default management measures for smallmesh multispecies (silver hake (whiting), red hake and offshore hake), from May 1, 2002, to May 1, 2003. Delaying the implementation date for an additional year is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS informs the public that the emergency interim rule published
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on May 22, 2002, that temporarily amended the fishing mortality rate (F) criteria in the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to be consistent with the best scientific information available, and which implemented the management measures proposed in Framework 1 to the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted the Atlantic DeepSea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review and is requesting comments from the public. The FMP is intended to prevent overfishing and maintain fleet capacity appropriate to the resource abundance.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration