NMFS proposes measures contained in Framework Adjustment 4 (Framework 4) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that would allow for the transfer at sea of scup between commercial fishing vessels, and clarify the circumstances under which a vessel must operate with the specified mesh. Regulations regarding

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement recreational measures for the 2004 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

NMFS publishes revised 2004 commercial quotas for summer flounder. This action is necessary to comply with the regulatory provision that requires the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) to correct erroneous landings data that factored into an overage deduction. The intent of this action is to provide fishermen the

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 2004 fishing year (through October 31,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document contains a correction to the final rule implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) published on April 27, 2004. Because publication of the Amendment 13 final rule followed publication of the Electronic Dealer Reporting (EDR) final rule, Sec. 648.7 of Amendment 13 unintentionally superceded Sec.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes quotas for the Atlantic surfclam, ocean quahog, and Maine mahogany ocean quahog fisheries for 20052007. Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to publish the proposed specifications for the 20052007 fishing years and seek public comment on such proposed measures. The intent of this action is to propose allowable harvest

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement measures in Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 13 was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to end overfishing and rebuild NE multispecies (groundfish) stocks managed under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Treasury Department

NMFS announces approval of an Operations Plan and Sector Contract titled ``Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector Operations Plan and Agreement'' (Sector Agreement), and the associated allocation of GB cod, consistent with regulations implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery
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Management Plan (FMP). The intent is to allow

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes specifications for the spiny dogfish fishery for the 2004 fishing year, which is May 1, 2004, through April 30, 2005. 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 of

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 2005 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 announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is eliminating the daily and maximum haddock trip limits for the groundfish fishery specified at 50 CFR 648.86(a) for the remainder of the 2004 fishing year, through April 30, 2005. Accordingly, there is no trip limit on the amount of haddock that can be

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is implementing approved measures contained in Framework Adjustment 40A (FW 40A) to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). FW 40A was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to provide additional opportunities for vessels in the fishery to target healthy stocks of groundfish in order to mitigate the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Veterans Affairs Department

NMFS announces final specifications for the 2004 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB). This action also specifies an increase in the Illex squid catch limit for squid/ butterfish incidental catch permit holders from 5,000 lb (2.27 mt) to 10,000 lb (4.54 mt). In addition, this action corrects the regulations implementing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) is decreasing the commercial Loligo squid quota for Quarter III in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This inseason adjustment is necessary due to overages in the commercial quota landed in the Quarter 1.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement approved management measures contained in a regulatory amendment to modify the reporting and recordkeeping regulations for federally permitted seafood dealers participating in the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, Atlantic sea scallop, Northeast (NE) multispecies, monkfish, Atlantic mackerel, squid,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that 85 percent of the total allowable catch (TAC) of Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder allocated to be harvested from the Western and Eastern U.S./Canada Areas has been harvested by October 1, 2004. To prevent the GB yellowtail flounder TAC

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes 2004 specifications for the Atlantic bluefish fishery, including total allowable landings (TAL), statebystate commercial quotas, recreational harvest limits, and recreational possession limits. The intent of the specifications is to conserve and manage the bluefish resource.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2005 and 2006 summer flounder fisheries, and for the 2005 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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This proposed emergency rule would implement measures to establish on March 1, 2004, the area access program for the Hudson Canyon Area, as proposed in Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). These measures would be in place for 180 days or until such time that Amendment 10 can be implemented, which will be

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues 2004 specifications for the Atlantic bluefish fishery, including total allowable harvest levels (TAL), statebystate commercial quotas, and a recreational harvest limit and possession limit for Atlantic bluefish off the east coast of the United States. The intent of the specifications is to conserve and manage the bluefish resource and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 4 (Framework 4) to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action would extend the limited entry program for the Illex squid fishery for an additional 5 years. This action is intended to further the objectives of the FMP and the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS adjusts the 2004 Winter II commercial scup quota and possession limit. This action complies with Framework Adjustment 3 (Framework 3) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which implemented procedures to allow the rollover of unused commercial scup quota from the Winter I period to the Winter II

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues the final rule to implement measures contained in Framework 4. This action extends the limited entry program for the Illex squid fishery for an additional five years. This action is intended to further the objectives of the FMP and the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act).

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 1B (Area 1B) for 2004 is projected to be harvested by 0001 hrs local time, December 8, 2004. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, December 8, 2004, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer or land more than

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to reinstate the permit requirements for commercial tilefish vessels specified under 50 CFR 648.4(a)(12). These permit requirements were set aside in a recent Federal Court Order (Court Order) in Hadaja v. Evans (May 15, 2003) on the grounds that the limited access program contained in the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration