[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25415-25416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12253]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 980318066-8066-01; I.D. 022698A]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 25; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This rule removes regulatory language inadvertently added, 
clarifies the raised footrope requirement for Small Mesh Area 1 & 2, 
and corrects an

[[Page 25416]]

amendatory instruction to the regulatory text of the final rule 
implementing Framework Adjustment 25 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery (FMP) published Tuesday, March 31, 
1998, and corrected on Wednesday, April 22, 1998.

DATES: Effective May 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Tokarcik, 978-281-9326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This document makes three corrections to the regulations 
implementing Framework Adjustment 25 to the FMP which was published on 
March 31, 1998 (63 FR 15326) and corrected on April 22, 1998 (63 FR 
19850).
    Section 648.80(a)(8) states that vessels fishing with mesh smaller 
than the minimum mesh size are subject to the raised footrope 
requirement specified in Sec. 648.80(a)(8)(iv). As with the finfish 
excluder device required in the shrimp fishery, the intent of the 
raised footrope gear modification is to reduce bycatch of regulated 
multispecies when vessels are fishing with nets of mesh less than the 
minimum mesh size. Because vessels fishing under the provisions of the 
Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Fishery Exemption Area, which is inclusive 
of Small Mesh Area 1 & 2, must properly secure a finfish excluder 
device in their trawl nets, this rule clarifies and corrects the intent 
of the Small Mesh Area 1 & 2 provision by allowing small mesh vessels 
to employ either a raised footrope or excluder device in their trawl 
gear when fishing in these two small mesh areas, depending on the 
species of fish targeted.
    In Sec. 648.81, paragraph (g)(1)(i) describes the Gulf of Maine 
Inshore Closure Area I. However, this paragraph also inadvertently 
refers to Inshore Closure Area III, which is described in 
Sec. 648.81(g)(1)(iii). This correction document removes the reference 
to Inshore Closure Area III from Sec. 648.81(g)(l)(i).
    This document corrects an amendatory instruction contained in the 
final rule document. Amendatory instruction 6 stated that in 
Sec. 648.86, paragraph (b)(1)(ii) is revised. However, NMFS only 
intended to revise the introductory text to Sec. 648.86(b)(1)(ii). 
Therefore, this documents revises the amendatory instruction to state 
that only the introductory text to Sec. 648.86(b)(1)(ii) is revised.

Correction

    Accordingly, in the publication on March 31, 1998, of the final 
regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 25 to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP (I.D. 022698A) and corrected on April 22, 1998 (63 FR 
19850), which was the subject of FR Doc. 98-8288, is corrected as 
follows:
    1. On page 15330, in the second column, under Sec. 648.80(a)(8)(i), 
ninth line down, insert the phrase ``or (a)(3)(ii)'' after the words 
``paragraph (a)(8)(iv).''
    2. On page 15331, in the second column, under Sec. 648.81(g)(1)(i), 
fifth line, remove ``apply to Inshore Closure Area III''.
    3. On page 15332, in the second column, amendatory instruction 6 to 
Sec. 648.86, third line, correct ``(b)(1)(ii)'' to read ``(b)(1)(ii) 
introductory text''.

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

    Dated: May 4, 1998.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12253 Filed 5-7-98; 8:45 am]
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