NMFS restores 18,665 lb (8,466 kg) of unused research set- aside (RSA) to the 2003 scup TAL and 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) of unused RSA to the black sea bass TAL, and makes corresponding adjustments to the 2003 scup Winter II commercial quota, the 2003 scup recreational harvest limit, the 2003 black sea bass coastwide commercial quota, and the 2003

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) announces its intent to prepare an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) and to prepare an SEIS to analyze the impacts of any proposed management measures. The Council is also formally reinitiating a public process to determine the scope of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a threeday public meeting on September 16, 17, and 18, 2003, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3day Council meeting on January 28, 29, and 30, 2003, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that it is considering and is seeking public comment on proposed rulemaking to control future access to the Illex (Illex illecebrosus) and Loligo (Loligo pealei) squid fisheries under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act). This announcement is intended, in part, to discourage speculative

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS suspends the minimum size limit of 4.75 inches (12.07 cm) for Atlantic surfclams for the 2004 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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement approved measures contained in Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act) and the FMP, this final rule establishes an annual coastwide quota for black sea bass and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 38 (Framework 38) to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to exempt a fishery from the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Regulated Mesh Area mesh size regulations. Framework 38 establishes an exempted small mesh silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) (whiting)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2004 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The implementing regulations for the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year for each of the species and to provide an opportunity for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2003 spiny dogfish fishery. This final rule implements a commercial quota and possession limits for the 2003 fishing year to address overfishing of the spiny dogfish resource. The intent of this action is to comply with implementing regulations for the Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which require NMFS to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the summer flounder commercial quota available to Massachusetts has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in Massachusetts for the remainder of calendar year 2003, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework 15 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). This rule proposes to implement management measures for the 2003 fishing year, including a daysatsea (DAS) adjustment, and continuation of a Sea Scallop Area Access Program

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes measures contained in Framework Adjustment 38 (Framework 38) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that would exempt a fishery from the Gulf of Maine (GOM)/Georges Bank (GB) Regulated Mesh Area mesh size regulations. Framework 38 would establish an exempted small mesh silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 3 (Framework 3) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to allow the rollover of unused commercial scup quota from the Winter I period to the Winter II period, and to change the regulations regarding the scup commercial quota

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils). Pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act) and the FMP, this proposed rule would modify the monkfish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS withdraws a portion of a proposed emergency rule, published on April 24, 2003, which proposed continuation of NE multispecies management measures implemented on August 1, 2002, and DAS Leasing Program (Program). NMFS will not implement that portion of the proposed emergency rule that proposed the Program.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes an emergency rule under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act) to implement measures intended to reduce overfishing on species managed under the NE Multispecies Fishery
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Management Plan (FMP). This proposed rule would continue measures specified in the Settlement Agreement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the annual quota for the Maine mahogany quahog fishery has been harvested. Commercial vessels operating under a Maine mahogany quahog permit may not harvest Maine mahogany quahogs from the Maine mahogany quahog zone for the remainder of the fishing year (through December 31, 2003). Regulations governing the Maine mahogany quahog

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The regulations contained in the interim rule published on August 1, 2002, in order to reduce overfishing, are continued for an additional 180 days, after which subsequent Secretarial action may be taken to ensure that sufficient measures to reduce overfishing stay in effect until implementation of Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes recreational measures for the 2003 summer flounder, scup, 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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that 95 percent of the Atlantic herring total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to Management Area 1A (Area 1A) for fishing year 2003 is projected to be harvested by November 19, 2003. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, November 19, 2003, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer or land more than 2,000 lb

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes specifications for the spiny dogfish fishery for the 2003 fishing year, which is May 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004. The implementing regulations for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent is to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the annual spiny dogfish commercial quota available to the coastal states from Maine through Florida for the fishing year, May 1, 2003 April 30, 2004, has been harvested. Federally permitted commercial vessels may no longer land spiny dogfish for the duration of the fishing year (through April 30, 2004), whether fishing occurs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS implements measures contained in Framework Adjustment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This final rule modifies the monkfish overfishing definition reference points and optimum yield (OY) target control rule to be consistent with the best scientific information available and the provisions of the MagnusonStevens Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia has transferred a total of 500,000 lb (226,860 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York for 2003. NMFS has adjusted the quotas and announces the revised commercial quotas for Virginia and New York. This action is permitted under the regulations implementing the Fishery Management

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration