[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 87 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25887-25891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11107]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 000426114-0114-01; I.D. 041000F]
RIN 0648-AN53


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Spiny Dogfish 
Fishery; 2000 Specifications

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Interim final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements specifications and seasonal trip limits for 
fishing year 2000 (May 1, 2000, through April 30, 2001) for the spiny 
dogfish (Squalus acanthias) fishery. This action establishes a total 
quota for the 2000 fishing year and sets aside a portion of the total 
quota for vessels participating in spiny dogfish exempted fishing 
projects. This interim final rule is implemented to prevent overfishing 
of spiny dogfish.

DATES: Effective May 1, 2000, through October 28, 2000. Comments must 
be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no 
later than 5 p.m., eastern daylight time, June 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this interim final rule should be sent to 
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, Northeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. Please mark the 
envelope ``Comments--2000 Spiny Dogfish Specifications.'' Comments also 
may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 978-281-9135. Comments will not be 
accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet. Copies of documents 
supporting this action are available from the Regional Office at the 
address specified here.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter W. Christopher, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9288, fax 978-281-

[[Page 25888]]

9135, e-mail <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e0e1b0a1b0c501d160c170d0a110e161b0c3e10111f1f50191108"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46362332233468252e342f353229362e2334062829272768212930">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) was partially approved by NMFS on behalf of the Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) on September 29, 1999, and the final rule 
implementing the FMP was published on January 10, 2000, and initially 
scheduled to be effective on February 10, 2000. Included among the 
approved management measures in the FMP is a requirement that the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Mid-Atlantic Council) and New 
England Fishery Management Council (New England Council) jointly 
develop annual specifications, which include a commercial quota to be 
allocated on a semi-annual basis, and other restrictions to assure that 
fishing mortality targets will not be exceeded. Both the Mid-Atlantic 
and New England Councils recommended a commercial quota specification 
and trip limits to achieve the FMP's objectives for fishing year 2000 
at their respective meetings in November and December 1999. However, 
the Councils failed to reach agreement on a preferred commercial quota 
and trip limit measure for this action. While the Mid-Atlantic Council 
recommended a quota of 2.9 million lb (1,316 mt) and a trip limit of 
300 lb (136 kg), the New England Council recommended a quota of 22 
million lb (10,000 mt) and a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) for the 
first quota period and a trip limit of not more than 7,000 lb (3,175 
kg) for the second quota period.

Reasons for Delay of the Final Rule Effective Date

    On February 10, 2000, NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, delayed the 
effective date of the final rule for the FMP until March 15, 2000 (65 
FR 7460, February 15, 2000), in order to provide the Councils with the 
opportunity to come to an agreement on how to proceed with 
implementation of the FMP. The effective date of the final rule was 
subsequently delayed until March 27, 2000, to provide additional time 
for the Councils to reconcile their differences. The Mid-Atlantic 
Council met on March 16, 2000 and voted to support its original 
recommendation for the specifications. The New England Council met on 
March 23, 2000 and voted to recommend a reduced quota of 14.3 million 
lb (6,500 mt) and a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) for both quota 
periods. The effective date of the final rule to implement the FMP was 
delayed again, until April 3, 2000, to provide additional time to 
consider options for the spiny dogfish specifications for the 2000 
fishing year. As a result of the Councils' inability to reach 
agreement, NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, is issuing this rule 
establishing a quota and trip limits for fishing year 2000 under its 
interim authority.

Need To End Overfishing

    The FMP specifies that a fishing mortality rate (F) of 0.03 on 
female spiny dogfish is required for the 3-year period from May 1, 
2000, through April 30, 2003, to end overfishing on spiny dogfish. The 
FMP further specifies that the commercial quota be subdivided into two 
semi-annual quota periods as follows: The period from May 1 through 
October 31 (quota period 1) is allocated 57.9 percent of the annual 
quota, and the period from November 1 through April 30 (quota period 2) 
is allocated 42.1 percent of the annual quota. The current F on female 
spiny dogfish has been recently estimated to be approximately 0.42, 
indicating that severe overfishing is occurring. If overfishing is 
occurring in a fishery, section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) provides that 
the Secretary may implement interim measures necessary to address 
overfishing. The quota and management measures in this interim final 
rule particularly address the overfishing that is occurring on females 
in the spiny dogfish fishery. This is an immediate problem that will 
become more serious if implementation of management measures to end 
overfishing is delayed beyond the start of the fishing year on May 1, 
2000.

Interim Final Rule Measures

    This interim final rule implements 2000 specifications for the 
spiny dogfish fishery, including a total quota of 4.5 million lb (2,041 
mt), of which 4 million lb (1,814 mt) is allocated to the commercial 
fishery and 500,000 lb (226.7 mt) as a set-aside for spiny dogfish 
exempted fishing projects. Quota period 1 is allocated 57.9 percent, or 
2,316,000 lb (1,050 mt), of the commercial quota, and quota period 2 is 
allocated 42.1 percent, or 1,684,000 lb (764 mt), of the commercial 
quota. In addition, this interim final rule establishes seasonal spiny 
dogfish trip limits of 600 lb (272 kg) for quota period 1, and 300 lb 
(136 kg) for quota period 2. The measures are necessary to end 
overfishing and to achieve the target F of 0.03 for fishing year 2000.
    The spiny dogfish exempted fishing quota set-aside of 500,000 lb 
(226.7 mt) will be allocated to vessels participating in projects 
designed to improve selectivity of spiny dogfish fishing gear and 
methods. The primary goal in providing this incentive for such projects 
is to investigate ways to shift fishing effort away from female spiny 
dogfish, which in turn would help to rebuild the female portion of the 
stock and provide greater balance in terms of the ratio in the stock of 
females to males. In addition, spiny dogfish gear-selectivity studies 
could improve current information on the species, including bycatch and 
discard mortality. Interested parties are required to submit proposals 
pursuant to the provisions for experimental fishing under 50 CFR 
648.12, and the provisions for exempted fishing set forth in 50 CFR 
600.745.
    There is uncertainty and variability in the population estimates 
for spiny dogfish. While landings associated with the mean estimated 
population size would be 2.9 million lb (1,316 mt) with a fishing 
mortality rate of F = 0.03, a range of populations, considering 
uncertainty in the estimates, would result in landings of approximately 
1.7 million lb (771 mt) to 4.5 million lb (2,041 mt) with a fishing 
mortality rate of F = 0.03. Uncertainty in the population estimates 
therefore indicate that a 2000 fishing year quota of 4.5 million lb 
(2,041 mt), which is higher than that recommended in the FMP, could 
still achieve an F of 0.03, although at a reduced probability. The trip 
limits contained in this rule are probably low enough to end the 
directed fishery for spiny dogfish and improve the likelihood that the 
measures will achieve an F of 0.03. This is because vessel operators 
are likely to avoid spiny dogfish. Although discarding of spiny dogfish 
would likely continue in the non-directed fisheries, it is not expected 
to cause negative impacts that have not already been considered in the 
FMP. The spiny dogfish exempted fishing quota set-aside of 500,000 lb 
(226.7 mt) is not expected to impact negatively the goals of the FMP. 
Projects would be developed to investigate ways to avoid catch and 
discards of female spiny dogfish. The effect of the projects on female 
dogfish will depend on the degree of targeting that occurs and the 
survival rate of discarded female dogfish. Both aspects will be 
important to consider and to measure during the projects.
    The trip limits for quota periods 1 and 2 will probably eliminate 
the directed fishery, and they are likely to have similar impacts on 
spiny dogfish trips during the respective quota periods, based on an 
analysis of recent NMFS landings data. Trip limits of 300 lb (136 kg) 
during quota period 2 and 600 lb

[[Page 25889]]

(272 kg) during quota period 1, will each impact approximately 67 
percent of trips after which spiny dogfish are landed.
    An analysis of the trip limits examined the expected reduction in 
the regulatory discards of spiny dogfish based on economic decisions of 
vessel owners when faced with the subject trip limits. This analysis 
indicates that trip limits, in combination with a low commercial quota, 
will produce a high level of regulatory discards because spiny dogfish 
are caught in nearly all major fisheries in the region. However, the 
goal of the FMP and the 2000 specifications is to eliminate the 
directed fishery in order to meet the F of 0.03 target. According to 
the FMP, high discards are also associated with the directed spiny 
dogfish fishery because the spiny dogfish landed in this fishery are 
primarily large females; smaller spiny dogfish are usually discarded. 
Thus, providing for a low trip limit that eliminates the directed 
fishery should decrease the mortality on female spiny dogfish. In 
addition, since dogfish is a low value species that is difficult to 
handle onboard vessels, the projection of spiny dogfish discards in the 
trip limit analyses is presumed to be overestimated; vessel owners are 
expected to make efforts to avoid spiny dogfish while targeting other 
species because of the effort associated with discarding them.

Alternatives Proposed by the Councils

Mid-Atlantic Council Alternative

    The Mid-Atlantic Council recommended a commercial quota of 
2,901,254 lb (1,316 mt) and a trip limit of 300 lb (136 kg) for both 
quota periods. The Mid-Atlantic Council's rationale for its 
recommendation is as follows: (1) The commercial quota associated with 
the F = 0.03 target for fishing year 2000 (as specified in the FMP) is 
2,901,254 lb (1,316 mt); (2) a trip limit of 300 lb (136 kg) is 
expected to produce, on average, the level of landings specified in the 
FMP during the rebuilding period to achieve an F of 0.03; (3) the 
intent of the FMP is to close the directed fishery for adult female 
spiny dogfish after year one of the rebuilding period and allow for the 
landing of incidental catch of spiny dogfish only during the rebuilding 
period; and (4) these restrictions will prevent a derby fishery and 
allow for a more equitable distribution of landings in time and space. 
The Mid-Atlantic Council submitted to NMFS a proposed rule to implement 
its recommendations; however, that proposed rule was not published in 
the Federal Register.

New England Council Alternatives

    The New England Council initially recommended a commercial quota of 
22,059,228 lb (10,006 mt) and a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) for 
quota period 1 and a trip limit of not more than 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) 
for quota period 2. The New England Council reasoned that the higher 
commercial quota, combined with a high trip limit, would allow the 
directed fishery to operate for another year. The New England Council 
believed that a commercial quota of 22,059,228 lb (10,006 mt) would 
provide for as much as a 50-percent reduction of landings from 1990 to 
1997 levels. Initially, the New England Council was concerned that 
discarding of spiny dogfish would overwhelm stock rebuilding goals and 
that the directed fishery should be maintained while the Councils 
determine the appropriate rebuilding target and management measures to 
control discarding. After reconsidering their recommendation at the 
request of the Secretary, the New England Council supported a quota of 
14.3 million lb (6,486 mt), which the New England Council believed 
would end overfishing and allow a limited fishery to continue. The New 
England Council felt that a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) would not 
encourage a directed fishery but would instead allow vessels to land 
dogfish that would have been discarded. When combined with discards of 
spiny dogfish in other fisheries, the New England Council argued that 
the discards associated with a low trip limit would undermine the goals 
of the FMP.

Economic Impact Analysis

    NMFS prepared an analysis of economic impacts on small entities was 
prepared for this interim final rule. It analyzes impacts of measures 
in this interim final rule and incorporates information contained in an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis prepared by the Mid-Atlantic 
Council for the initial proposed rule submission.
    The reasons why this action was considered and is being taken by 
NMFS by interim final rulemaking are described elsewhere in the 
preamble. Likewise, the objectives and the legal basis for this interim 
final rule are covered earlier in the preamble.
    The small entities considered in the analysis include 512 vessels 
that have reported spiny dogfish landings to NMFS. Vessels that did not 
have a Federal fishery permit in 1998, such as vessels that fish in 
state waters only, were not included in the analysis. Although it is 
likely that the measures would have some impact on the activity of 
these vessels, should their owners choose to acquire a Federal spiny 
dogfish permit, the magnitude of this impact could not be determined.
    There are no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements contained 
in the preferred alternative or any of the other alternatives that were 
considered for this action. No relevant Federal rules are known to 
duplicate, overlap or conflict with the measures contained in this 
interim final rule.
    The 500,000-lb portion of the 4.5-million lb quota is established 
to minimize the economic effects of the quota without compromising the 
objective of the FMP to begin rebuilding the spiny dogfish stock, 
especially the adult female portion.
    Analysis of the action considers a preferred alternative having a 
commercial quota of 4 million lb (1,814 mt), and trip limits of 600 lb 
(272 kg) in quota period 1 and 300 lb (136 kg) in quota period 2. 
Economic impacts on small entities are also analyzed under four 
alternative options: (1) a commercial quota of 2,901,254 lb (1,316 mt) 
and a trip limit of 300 lb (136 kg) for both quota periods (Mid-
Atlantic Council Option); (2) a commercial quota of 22,059,228 lb 
(10,006 mt) and a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) for quota period 1 
and up to 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) for quota period 2 (the New England 
Council's original recommendation); (3) a commercial quota of 2,901,254 
lb (1,316 mt), trip limits of 600 lb (272 kg) for quota period 1 and 
300 lb (136 kg) for quota period 2; and (4) a no action alternative.
    A large portion of affected vessels identified in the analysis 
would likely experience revenue losses under any of the options. Under 
the no action alternative, with no quota or management measures, the 
FMP projects that landings of spiny dogfish would decrease 
approximately 50 percent from 1998 levels to 25.5 million lb (11,576 
mt) in fishing year 2000, due to continued declines in stock size as 
the result of overfishing. The analysis projects that this reduction in 
spiny dogfish landings from 1998 levels would result in lower revenues 
for a large portion of the industry. Of the four options, the Mid-
Atlantic Council's option would have the greatest negative economic 
impact on vessels.
    An analysis was conducted for the trip limits of 600 lb (272 kg) 
and 300 lb (136 kg) based on possible economic decisions of vessel 
owners during spiny dogfish trips. The trip limit analysis includes 
estimates of the reduction in the number of trips, the level of 
landings during the quota period and projected closure dates of the 
quota

[[Page 25890]]

periods. The analysis projected that, on average, under a trip limit of 
600 lb (272 kg) for quota period 1, landings will exceed the semi-
annual quota of 2,316,000 lb (1,050 mt) on about September 5, 2000 (128 
days into the quota period). During quota period 2, however, if a 300-
lb trip limit was in effect, landings were projected not to exceed the 
semi-annual quota of 1,684,000 lb (764 mt). The analysis projected 
landings of only 615,000 lb (279 mt) during quota period 2. Thus, 
approximately 1,069,000 lb (485 mt) of allowable spiny dogfish landings 
were projected not to be landed. Although the commercial quota is 4 
million lb (1,814 mt), total projected landings are projected to reach 
only 2,930,000 lb (1,329 mt). However, the analysis does not account 
for behavioral changes by vessel operators, which could impact the 
amount of landings. Also, since vessels without Federal permits are not 
captured in the analysis, additional landings are likely to occur. In 
comparison to the Mid-Atlantic Council option, the impact on small 
entities is less severe.
    Based on the economic analysis of the trip limit for quota period 
1, and considering a commercial quota of 2,901,254 lb (1,316 mt), trip 
limits of 300 lb (136 kg), 600 lb (272 kg), and 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) are 
estimated to eliminate approximately 28 percent, 26 percent and 28 
percent, respectively, of fishing trips after which spiny dogfish are 
landed. While some impacted vessels would continue to make trips and 
land only up to the trip limits, a portion of the impacted trips, i.e. 
28 percent, 26 percent and 28 percent of trips under trip limits of 300 
lb (136 kg), 600 lb (272 kg) and 7,000 lb (3,175 kg), respectively, in 
quota period 1, would cease because the trip limit would not provide 
for profitable trips. The number of trips that are eliminated under a 
7,000-lb trip limit increase because the length of the season under the 
high trip limit would be significantly reduced. Dogfish sell at around 
16 cents per pound. It is possible that the effort from the eliminated 
spiny dogfish trips could move into other fisheries where vessels may 
make up for the lost revenue. However, it is not clear at what level 
this would occur or how much additional revenue it would create for the 
vessels.
    Although more vessels would find it profitable to land spiny 
dogfish under a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) while the season is 
open, a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) would not meet the objectives 
of the FMP because it would not end the directed fishery. Vessels may 
still be able to make profitable trips by directing on other species 
and landing up to the trip limit of 600 lb (272 kg) or 300 lb (136 kg) 
of spiny dogfish. Revenues from spiny dogfish alone would be minimal, 
but the lower trip limits will likely end the directed fishery and be 
consistent with the FMP. If major spiny dogfish markets are eliminated 
as a result of low supply due to a low trip limit or quick closure of 
the fishery, much of the revenue from the spiny dogfish fishery would 
also be drastically reduced.
    The spiny dogfish exempted fishing quota set-aside of 500,000 lb 
(226.7 mt) will provide additional revenue for participating vessels, 
although the level cannot be determined without an estimate of the 
number of vessels that would participate in the exempted fishing 
projects. In addition, it is likely that research organizations may 
provide additional funding as compensation for the use of the vessels 
in the projects.
    The impact of the annual specifications for 2000 contained in this 
interim final rule will be greatest in Massachusetts, North Carolina, 
Maryland, Maine and New Jersey, which account cumulatively for 90 
percent of spiny dogfish landings from 1988 through 1997. Further, the 
communities of Wachapreague, VA; Plymouth, MA; and Scituate, MA, have 
benefitted from dogfish landings that made up 76 percent, 76 percent, 
and 21 percent, respectively, of the value of all landed fish, based on 
1997 NMFS landings data. Communities such as these, and others that 
have relatively high income from dogfish landings compared to landings 
of other species, will be most impacted by the commercial quota and 
trip limit in the specifications. The analysis also concludes that 
small vessels (25 to 49 ft (7.6 to 14.9 m)), which constitute 88 
percent of the affected vessels, would be particularly impacted under 
any option. However, if no action is taken, communities benefitting 
from dogfish landings would experience greater lost revenues in the 
long term due to stock collapse as a result of the directed fishery. 
Long-term benefits to the stocks and revenues resulting from rebuilt 
stocks are expected to outweigh the short-term negative impacts to the 
sectors of the fishing industry that have utilized the spiny dogfish 
resource.
    Following is a summary of the impacts that would be expected by 
implementing the alternatives that were considered by the Councils.
    The Mid-Atlantic Council recommended a commercial quota of 
2,901,254 lb (1,316 mt) and a trip limit of 300 lb (136 kg) for both 
quota periods during fishing year 2000. Based on the analyses, the Mid-
Atlantic Council option would result in the greatest reduction in 
revenues of the options considered. The only difference between the 
Mid-Atlantic Council's trip limit recommendation and the action in this 
interim final rule is that the trip limit for quota period 1 under the 
Mid-Atlantic Council option would be 300 lb (136 kg), rather than 600 
lb (272 kg) in this interim final rule. With a trip limit of 300 lb 
(136 kg) for quota period 2, the quota would not be expected to be 
exceeded and the fishery would not close, although revenues per trip 
would be small due to the low trip limit and low value of spiny 
dogfish. The lower trip limit would be more likely to cause immediate 
loss of spiny dogfish markets as a result of low supply. The revenue 
losses associated with a trip limit of 300 lb (136 kg) in quota period 
1 is expected to be higher than those associated with a trip limit of 
600 lb (272 kg).
    The New England Council recommended a quota of 22,059,228 lb 
(10,006 mt) for fishing year 2000 and a trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 
kg) in quota period 1 and up to 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) in quota period 2. 
The higher commercial quota would provide for a directed fishery for 
spiny dogfish that would likely last for the majority of the quota 
periods, thus providing vessels the ability to sell spiny dogfish for a 
longer period of time. Further, the higher trip limits would allow 
higher per trip revenues from spiny dogfish and would reduce regulatory 
discards. However, even under this option, a large number of vessels 
would likely still suffer revenue losses compared to 1998 revenues 
because stock abundance has declined. The New England Council's 
recommended quota would likely result in fishing mortality approaching 
an F of 0.3, thus well exceeding the target F of 0.03, and the high 
trip limit would encourage directed spiny dogfish fishing, both of 
which are counter to the objectives of the FMP. Further, long-term 
revenues to participants in the fishery would likely be reduced due to 
future reductions in landings that could be required due to overfishing 
caused by directed fishing on spiny dogfish.
    The trip limit analysis was not applied to the New England 
Council's more recent quota recommendation of a 14,300,000 lb (6,500 
mt) and trip limit of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg), but the economic impacts 
would be greater than those associated with the Council's original 
recommendation of a quota of 22,059,228 lb (10,006 mt) and trip limit 
of 7,000 lb (3,175 kg). Because of the lower quota, the fishery would 
close earlier and more vessels would

[[Page 25891]]

experience revenue losses due to the closure.
    Under the no action alternative, the spiny dogfish fishery would 
remain unregulated and fishing mortality could be expected to remain at 
or near an F of 0.43, consistent with current projected fishing 
mortality. With no restrictions, the FMP projects that landings would 
decline to about 25.5 million lb (11,576 mt) in fishing year 2000 due 
to continued reductions in the stock size. Revenues would decline due 
to the projected 41 percent reduction in landings.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that it 
would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide 
prior notice of and opportunity for public comment on this action. 
These measures must be in place by May 1, 2000, the start of the 
fishing year. Any delay in preventing overfishing increases the 
likelihood of a loss of long-term productivity of the spiny dogfish 
resource and increases the probability that more severe restrictions 
would be needed in the future. Therefore, the AA finds good cause under 
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public 
comment.
    Similarly, it is in the public interest to implement these measures 
by the beginning of the next fishing year (May 1, 2000) in order to 
prevent overfishing and reduce the likelihood of long term productivity 
losses and more severe restrictions in the future. Therefore, the AA 
finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) not to delay for 30 days the 
effectiveness of this interim final rule.
    This interim final rule has been determined to be significant for 
the purposes of E.O. 12866.
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this interim final rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, 
the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 
601 et seq., are inapplicable. Nevertheless, NMFS prepared an economic 
analysis as part of the regulatory impact review, which describes the 
impact this interim final rule will have on small entities. This 
economic analysis is described in the Supplementary Information section 
of the preamble to this interim final rule.
    The President has directed Federal agencies to use plain language 
in their communications with the public, including regulations. To 
comply with this directive, we seek public comment on any ambiguity or 
unnecessary complexity arising from the language used in this interim 
final rule.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: May 1, 2000.
Penelope D. Dalton,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended 
as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    2. In Sec. 648.14, paragraph (aa)(7) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (aa) * * *
    (7) Land per trip more than the trip limit of spiny dogfish 
specified under Sec. 648.235.
    3. In Sec. 648.235, the heading is revised and paragraphs (a) and 
(b) are added to read as follows:


Sec. 648.235  Possession and trip limit restrictions.

    (a) Quota Period 1. From May 1 through October 31, vessels issued a 
valid Federal spiny dogfish permit specified under Sec. 648.4(a)(11) 
may land up to 600 lb (272 kg) of spiny dogfish per trip.
    (b) Quota Period 2. From November 1 through April 30, vessels 
issued a valid Federal spiny dogfish permit specified under 
Sec. 648.4(a)(11) may land up to 300 lb (136 kg) of spiny dogfish per 
trip.

[FR Doc. 00-11107 Filed 5-1-00; 3:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F


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