NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast (NE) Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is removing the Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder trip limit for NE multispecies daysatsea (DAS) vessels fishing in the U.S./Canada Management Area. This action is authorized by the regulations implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The final rule implementing the specifications for the 2005 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB) clarified the expiration date of the limited entry program for Illex squid, established a minimum mesh requirement for the butterfish fishery, and removed a regulatory requirement for annual specifications to be published by

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 fishing year 2006 is projected to be harvested by December 8, 2006. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, December 8, 2006, 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 2006 through 2008 fishing years (May 1, 2006, through April 30, 2009). The implementing regulations for the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for up to a period of 5 years and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the closure of the Closed Area II Scallop Access Area (CAII) to scallop vessels until February 28, 2007. This closure, effective 0001 hours on September 6, 2006, is based on a determination by the Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (RA), that scallop vessels are projected to catch the yellowtail flounder (YT) bycatch

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 hours, February 13, 2006. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of Loligo squid per trip for the remainder of the quarter (through March 31, 2006). This

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces consideration of proposed rulemaking to control future access to the New England smallmesh multispecies (whiting) fishery. The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has indicated that limited access may be necessary to control participation in the fishery at a level that reduces the risk of overcapitalization and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS suspends the minimum size limit of 4.75 inches (12.065 cm) for Atlantic surfclams for the 2007 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 proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 18 (Framework 18) to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) which was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). Framework 18 proposes the following management measures: Scallop fishery specifications for 2006 and 2007 (open area daysatsea (DAS)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the percentage of the tilefish annual total allowable landings (TAL) available to the Fulltime Tier 2 permit category for the 2006 fishing year has been harvested. In response, commercial vessels fishing under the Fulltime Tier 2 tilefish category may not harvest tilefish from within the Golden Tilefish Management Unit for the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Atlantic bluefish commercial quota available to New York has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the Atlantic bluefish fishery may not land bluefish in New York for the remainder of calendar year 2006, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer. Regulations governing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that commercial quota is available to allow the directed fishery for Loligo squid to reopen. Vessels issued a Federal moratorium permit to harvest Loligo squid in excess of the incidental catch allowance may continue landing Loligo squid as of April 27, 2006 effective date of this notice. The intent of this action is to allow for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the spiny dogfish commercial quota available to the coastal states from Maine through Florida for the semiannual quota period, May 1, 2006 October 31, 2006, has been harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, September 25, 2006, federally permitted commercial vessels may not fish for, possess, transfer, or land spiny dogfish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues 2006 specifications for the Atlantic bluefish fishery, including statebystate commercial quotas, a recreational harvest limit, and recreational possession limits for Atlantic bluefish off the east coast of the United States. The intent of these specifications is to establish the allowable 2006 harvest levels and possession limits to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to modify the regulations implementing the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to allow vessels issued either a General Category Atlantic sea scallop permit or a limited access sea scallop permit, when not fishing under a scallop daysatsea (DAS) limitation, to fish for scallops with small dredges (combined width

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS withdraws the proposed rule published on September 6, 2006, which proposed an increase in the annual tilefish total allowable landings (TAL) for the remainder of the 10year stock rebuilding period. Thus, the previously established annual tilefish TAL of 1.995 million lb (905 mt) remains in effect.

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 charter and party boat (charter/party) fishery in the NE multispecies fishery if a management regime is developed and implemented under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS implements Framework Adjustment 43 (Framework 43) to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which addresses the incidental catch of NE multispecies by vessels fishing for Atlantic herring by establishing a Herring Exempted Fishery. Vessels issued a Category 1 Atlantic herring fishing permit (Category 1 vessels) are authorized to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2007 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. This final rule specifies allowed harvest limits for both commercial and recreational fisheries, including commercial scup possession limits. This action prohibits federally permitted commercial vessels from
[[Page 75135]]
landing summer flounder in

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

On April 13, 2006, an interim final rule to implement an emergency action for the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was published in the Federal Register. The interim final rule was published with several inadvertent errors and unclear language, including the omission of the observer notice requirement for vessels

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to amend the regulations governing how fishing net mesh size is measured in the Northeast. This proposed change would increase the weight used to measure mesh larger than 120 mm (4.72 inches) in all fisheries. The intent of this proposed rule is to ensure consistent and accurate measurements of fishing net mesh size.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast (NE) Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is modifying the Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder trip limit from 1,500 lb (680.4 kg) per day up to a maximum of 15,000 lb (6,804.1 kg) per trip, to 15,000 lb (6,804.1 kg) per trip with no daily limit, for NE multispecies daysatsea (DAS) vessels

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the 577 allowed trips for general category scallop vessels into the Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access Area (NLCA) are projected to be taken by 0001 hr local time, July 13, 2006. The area will be closed to general category vessels until it reopens on June 15, 2007. This action is being taken to prevent the allocation of general

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the quota for the tilefish Parttime permit category has been exceeded for fishing year (FY) 2006, requiring an adjustment of the Parttime permit category quota for FY 2007. This
[[Page 63704]]
action complies with the Fishery Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS implements this interim final rule pursuant to its authority to issue emergency measures under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act). This emergency action implements measures intended to reduce immediately the fishing mortality rate (F) on certain groundfish species to prevent overfishing and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Veterans Affairs Department