NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) is suspending the haddock trip limit for the groundfish fishery for the remainder of the 2002 fishing year. The Regional Administrator has projected that less than 75 percent of the haddock target total allowable catch (TAC) will be harvested for the 2002

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) announces its intention to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to assess potential effects on the human environment of alternative measures for managing the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fisheries pursuant to the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 37 (Framework 37) to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to eliminate the Year 4 default measure for whiting in both stock areas; reinstate the Cultivator Shoal whiting fishery (CSWF) season through October 31 each year; eliminate the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes measures contained in Framework Adjustment 3 (Framework 3) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that would 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 counting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces final specifications for the 2003 Atlantic herring fishery. There are two changes from the 2002 specifications approved by NMFS for the 2003 fishery: A transfer of 10,000 mt from Area 2 total allowable catch (TAC) reserve to the Area 3 TAC resulting in an Area 3 TAC of 60,000 mt and an Area 2 TAC reserve of 70,000 mt; and a

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 Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and
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Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action extends the limited entry program for the Illex squid fishery for an additional year and is intended to further the objectives of the FMP and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring 357,867 lb (162,326 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia from its 2003 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces a correction to the August 1, 2002, interim final rule implementing restrictions specified in the Settlement Agreement Among Certain Parties (Settlement Agreement), which was ordered to be implemented by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Court) in a Remedial Order (Order) issued on May 23, 2002. The Interim Final

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issued a 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. The final rule implementing Framework 38 was published in the Federal Register on July 9,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted the Northeast Skate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review and is requesting comments from the public. The FMP would establish a management program and fishing effort controls for
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the skate fisheries in the Northeast (NE). The goal of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 13 to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This proposed rule would establish: A new surfclam overfishing definition; multiyear fishing quotas; a mandatory vessel monitoring system (VMS), when such a system is economically viable; the ability to suspend or adjust the surfclam

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils) announce their intention to jointly prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to assess potential effects on the human environment of alternative measures for managing the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement the Northeast (NE) Skate Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This proposed rule would establish: A possession limit for skate wings; a baitonly exemption to the wing possession limit restrictions; a procedure for the development, revision, and/or review of management measures on an annual, biennial, and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the summer flounder commercial quota available to 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 2003, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer. Regulations

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 small mesh multispecies (silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis; red hake, Urophycis chuss; offshore hake, Merluccius albidus) resources if a management regime is developed and implemented under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement recreational measures for the 2003 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The intent of these measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources.

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 Draft Amendment 10 to the Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a special oneday Council meeting on October 21, 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 March 4, 5, and 6, 2003, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CFR Correction

In Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 600 to End, revised as of October 1, 2002, Sec. 648.21 is corrected by removing paragraph (e) appearing on page 337 and reinstating the paragraph (e) appearing on page 316 in the 2000 edition. The reinstated text reads as follows:
Sec. 648.21 Procedures for determining

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is required pursuant to 50 CFR 648.71 to specify annual catch quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. In order to meet this regulatory requirement, NMFS issues this rule to set final quotas for the Atlantic surfclam, ocean quahog, and Maine mahogany ocean quahog fisheries for 2004. These regulations specify allowable

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 March 25, 2003. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not possess or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of Loligo squid per calendar day for the remainder of the quarter (through March 31, 2003). This action

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 2day Council meeting on August 1314, 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 May 20 through 22, 2003, 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 Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) is suspending the haddock trip limit for the NE multispecies fishery for the remainder of the 2003 fishing year. The Regional Administrator has projected that less than 75 percent of the haddock target total allowable catch (TAC) will be harvested for the 2003

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration