NMFS proposes regulations to implement concurrently Framework 16 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Scallop FMP) and Framework 39 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP (Multispecies FMP) (Joint Frameworks) developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). The Joint Frameworks would establish Scallop Access Areas

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces final specifications for the 2004 Atlantic herring fishery. The intent of this action is to conserve and manage the Atlantic herring resource and provide for a sustainable fishery.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 5 (Framework 5) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that would allow for specification of annual Total Allowable Landings (TAL) for multiple years. The intent is to provide flexibility and efficiency to the management of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2004 Atlantic deep-sea red crab (red crab) fishery. The regulations for the red crab fishery require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming red crab fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The proposed target total allowable catch (TAC) and fleet days at sea (DAS) for fishing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The final rule to implement Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (Amendment 13) was published on April 27, 2004, and the majority of measures became effective on May 1, 2004. This final rule, regulatory amendment amends observer notification requirements of Amendment 13 to relieve a restriction. The required observer

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the summer flounder commercial quota available to New York has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in New York for the remainder of calendar year 2004, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer. Regulations governing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) in cooperation with NMFS announces its intent to prepare a programmatic EIS and Omnibus Amendments to the FMPs for Northeast Multispecies, Atlantic Sea Scallop, Monkfish, Herring, Skates, Atlantic Salmon and Red Crab. The Amendments (Omnibus) will review the EFH components of all the Council's

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes measures contained in Framework Adjustment 5 (Framework 5) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that would allow for specification of the annual Total Allowable Landings (TAL) for multiple years. The intent is to provide flexibility and efficiency to the management of the species.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS implements measures to establish target total allowable catch (TAC) levels for the monkfish fishery for the 2004 fishing year (FY), and adjust trip limits and daysatsea (DAS) for limited access monkfish vessels fishing in the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA) based upon the target TAC setting and trip limit and DAS adjustment methods

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to implement the days-at-sea (DAS) allocation procedure contained in the final rule implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) under MagnusonStevens Act interim rule authority. This DAS allocation procedure established a DAS baseline allocation based on historic participation in the NE multispecies

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2004 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries and makes preliminary adjustments to the 2004 commercial quotas for these fisheries. This final rule specifies allowed harvest limits for both commercial and recreational fisheries, including scup possession limits. This action also prohibits

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 June 19, 2004. 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 (through June 30, 2004). This action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public hearing to solicit comments on ``Draft Amendment 3 for Addressing EFH Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs), and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, Stone Crab, Coral and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). Amendment 10 proposes a longterm, comprehensive program to manage the sea scallop fishery through an area rotation management program to maximize scallop yield. Areas would

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces approval of conservation equivalent recreational management measures for summer flounder in New York for the remainder of 2004. This determination is based on a recommendation from the Summer Flounder Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes recreational measures for the 2004 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 it is considering, and is seeking public comment on, proposed rulemaking to control future access to the open access vessel permit category (general category) Atlantic sea scallop fishery if a management regime is developed and implemented under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that spiny dogfish commercial fishery will reopen. Vessels issued a Federal moratorium permit to harvest spiny dogfish may possess up to 300 lb (136 kg) of spiny dogfish per trip per calendar day on 0001 hours local time, January 12, 2004, through 2359 hours local time, April 30, 2004. The intent of this action is to allow for the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The final rule implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 13) authorized allocation of up to 20 percent of the annual GB cod TAC to the GB Cod Hook Sector (Sector). Pursuant to that final rule, the Sector has submitted an Operations Plan and Sector Contract titled ``Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the summer flounder commercial quota available to 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 2004, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This emergency rule implements, as of March 1, 2004, an area access program for the Hudson Canyon Area. The area access program continues the controlled access program that has been implemented through Frameworks 14 and 15 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) with modifications similar to the measures proposed in Amendment 10

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is closing the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP to all NE multispecies daysatsea (DAS) vessels, effective September 3, 2004. Vessels that have not yet departed on a trip to fish in the SAP as of September 3, 2004, may not begin a trip into the SAP.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS reinstates the permit requirements for commercial tilefish vessels. These permit requirements were set aside in a recent Federal Court Order (Court Order) on the grounds that the limited access program contained in the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) violated National Standard 2 of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS implements concurrently Framework 16 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Scallop FMP) and Framework 39 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP (Multispecies FMP) (Joint Frameworks) developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). The Joint Frameworks establish Scallop Access Areas within Northeast (NE)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 10) incorporating the draft Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration