28762 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 99 / Monday, May 24, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 

of the square mesh layer must be no more 

than 2 inches (5.1 cm) less than the 20 mesh 

side of the inner polyethylene layer when 

stretched taught. The 18–inch (45.7–cm) 

leading edge of each square mesh layer must 

be sewn evenly to the 36–mesh leading edge 

of the polyethylene section and the sides are 

sewn evenly (in length) to the 20–mesh edges 

of the polyethylene webbing. This will form 

a v-shape funnel using the top of the 

extension webbing as the top of the funnel 

and the bottom of the extension webbing as 

the bottom of the funnel. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2010–12384 Filed 5–21–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 648 

[Docket No. 0907021105–0024–03] 

RIN 0648–AY00 

Fisheries of the Northeastern United 

States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 

Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 10; 

Correction 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule; correction. 

SUMMARY: On March 11, 2010, a final 

rule to implement Amendment 10 to the 

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 

(MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 

was published in the Federal Register. 

The regulatory text specifying gear 

restrictions did not reflect the increase 

in the minimum mesh size requirement 

for net strengtheners in the Loligo 

fishery from 4 1⁄2 inches (11.43 cm) to 

5 inches (12.7 cm) that was enacted in 

the MSB specifications and management 

measures for the 2010 fishing year. This 

document corrects that error. 

DATES: Effective September 13, 2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lindsey Feldman, Fisheries 

Management Specialist, (978) 675–2179, 

fax (978) 281–9135. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On March 11, 2010 (75 FR 11441), a 

final rule was published implementing 

Amendment 10 to the MSB FMP 

(Amendment 10). Amendment 10 

increased the minimum codend mesh 

size requirement for the Loligo squid 

(Loligo) fishery, established a butterfish 

rebuilding program with a butterfish 

mortality cap for the Loligo fishery, 

established a 72–hr trip notification 

requirement for the Loligo fishery, and 

required an annual assessment of the 

butterfish rebuilding program by the 

Council’s Scientific and Statistical 

Committee (SSC). The regulatory text 

specifying gear restrictions (§ 648.23) 

did not reflect the increase in the 

minimum mesh sizes requirement for 

net strengtheners in the Loligo fishery 

from 4 1⁄2 inches (11.43 cm) to 5 inches 

(12.7 cm) that was implemented in the 

final MSB specifications and 

management measures for the 2010 

fishing year (February 3, 2010, 75 FR 

5537), and becomes effective on 

September 13, 2010. This document 

corrects this error. 

Correction 

Accordingly, the final rule, published 

on March 11, 2010, at 75 FR 11441, is 

corrected as follows: 

1. On page 11450, beginning in 

column 2, § 648.23 (a)(3)(i) is correctly 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 648.23 Gear restrictions. 

(a) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(i) Net obstruction or constriction. 

Owners or operators of otter trawl 

vessels fishing for and/or possessing 

Loligo shall not use any device, gear, or 

material, including, but not limited to, 

nets, net strengtheners, ropes, lines, or 

chafing gear, on the top of the regulated 

portion of a trawl net that results in an 

effective mesh opening of less than 21⁄8

inches (54 mm), during Trimesters I 

(Jan–Apr) and III (Sept–Dec), or 17⁄8

inches (48 mm), during Trimester II 

(May–Aug), diamond mesh, inside 

stretch measure. ‘‘Top of the regulated 

portion of the net’’ means the 50 percent 

of the entire regulated portion of the net 

that would not be in contact with the 

ocean bottom if, during a tow, the 

regulated portion of the net were laid 

flat on the ocean floor. However, owners 

or operators of otter trawl vessels fishing 

for and/or possessing Loligo may use net 

strengtheners (covers), splitting straps, 

and/or bull ropes or wire around the 

entire circumference of the codend, 

provided they do not have a mesh 

opening of less than 5 inches (12.7 cm) 

diamond mesh, inside stretch measure. 

For the purposes of this requirement, 

head ropes are not to be considered part 

of the top of the regulated portion of a 

trawl net. 

* * * * * 

Dated: May 18, 2010. 

Eric C. Schwaab, 

Assistant Administrator For Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

[FR Doc. 2010–12388 Filed 5–21–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

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