[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14388-14389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7719]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 021097C]


New England Fishery Management Council; Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; Reopening of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Public hearings; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils 
(Councils) held public hearings to receive comments on Amendment 9 to 
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Councils 
are reopening the comment period to allow additional time for all 
interested parties to submit written comments.

DATES: The comment period, which closed on March 14, 1997, is reopened 
through April 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for copies of the public 
hearing document, draft Amendment 9 document, or the draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement should be directed to Paul J. Howard, 
Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, 
Saugus, MA 01906; telephone 617-231-0422, or David Keifer, Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 South New 
Street, Suite 2115, Dover, DE 19901; telephone 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, 617-231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 21, 1997 (62 FR 7991), NMFS 
published a notification of public hearings on Amendment 9 to the FMP 
and comments were solicited through March 14, 1997. The Councils are 
aware of the public interest in the management measures being proposed 
for the monkfish fishery and want to allow

[[Page 14389]]

interested parties additional time to comment.
    Amendment 9 to the FMP would bring monkfish under Federal 
management authority through the Northeast region (Virginia to Maine). 
The Councils are considering two management areas for monkfish, a 
northern fishery management area and a southern fishery management area 
based on the differences in fisheries in the Gulf of Maine versus areas 
to the south. Total allowable landings targets already have been 
established for the two fishery management areas and are consistent 
with the monkfish overfishing definition and a rebuilding strategy 
adopted by the Councils.
    A limited access program for vessels that target and land large 
volumes of monkfish would be based on historic participation in the 
fishery. These limited access vessels could target monkfish under a 
seasonal quota or under a limited number of days-at-sea, depending on 
the management measures in the final amendment. Trip limits would be 
used to control monkfish bycatch.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 20, 1997.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-7719 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]
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