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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 051209329-6046-02; I.D. 082806A]
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Closure.
 SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the directed fishery for 
                        *Loligo*
                         squid in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be closed effective 0001 hours, September 2, 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 September 30, 2006). This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding its Quarter III quota and to allow for effective management of this stock.
 DATES: Effective 0001 hours, September 02, 2006, through 2400 hours, September 30, 2006.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Frei, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9221, Fax 978-281-9135.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Loligo squid fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require specifications for maximum sustainable yield, initial optimum yield, allowable biological catch, domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic annual processing, joint venture processing, and total allowable levels of foreign fishing for the species managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The procedures for setting the annual initial specifications are described in § 648.21. The 2006 specification of DAH for 
                    *Loligo*
                     squid was set at 16,872.4 mt (71 FR 10621, March 2, 2006). This amount is allocated by quarter, as shown below. Table. 1 
                        *Loligo*
                         Squid Quarterly Allocations.
Quarter
Percent
Metric Tons1
Research Set-asideI (Jan-Mar)
33.23
5,606.70
N/AII (Apr-Jun)
17.61
2,971.30
N/AIII (Jul-Sep)
17.3
2,918.90
N/AIV (Oct-Dec)
31.86
5,375.60
N/ATotal
100
16,872.50
127.51
                        Quarterly allocations after 127.5 mt research set-aside deduction.
 Section 648.22 requires NMFS to close the directed 
                    *Loligo*
                     squid fishery in the EEZ when 80 percent of the quarterly allocation is harvested in Quarters I, II, and III, and when 95 percent of the total annual DAH has been harvested. NMFS is further required to notify, in advance of the closure, the Executive Directors of the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils; mail notification of the closure to all holders of 
                    *Loligo*
                     squid permits at least 72 hours before the effective date of the closure; provide adequate notice of the closure to recreational participants in the fishery; and publish notification of the closure in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    . The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, based on dealer reports and other available information, has determined that 80 percent of the DAH for 
                    *Loligo*
                     squid in Quarter III will be harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, September 2, 2006, the directed fishery for 
                    *Loligo*
                     squid is closed and vessels issued Federal permits for 
                    *Loligo*
                     squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of 
                    *Loligo*
                     during a 
                    ( print page 52500)
                    calendar day. The directed fishery will reopen effective 0001 hours, October 1, 2006, when the Quarter IV quota becomes available. Classification This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority:
                    16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        *et seq.* Dated: August 29, 2006. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.


[FR Doc. 06-7427 Filed 8-30-06; 3:25 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S