Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/50/part-648?qt-cfr_tabs=0
Timestamp: 2015-10-07 18:34:29
Document Index: 308662472

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', '§ 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', '§ 648', 'arts 223', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', '§ 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'arts 223', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648', 'art 648']

There are 38 Updates appearing in the Federal Register for 50 CFR Part 648. View below or at eCFR (GPOAccess)
Title 50 published on 2014-10-01.The following are only the Rules published in the Federal Register after the published date of Title 50.For a complete list of all Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices view the Rulemaking tab.2015-07-29; vol. 80 # 145 - Wednesday, July 29, 201580 FR 45100 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-18586 RIN0648-XE07 Docket No.150105004-5355-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; area closure. This action is effective July 29, 2015, through August 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action closes the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool trawl and gillnet vessels for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2015. The closure is required by regulation because the common pool fishery has caught over 90 percent of its Trimester 1 quota for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder. This closure is intended to prevent the overharvest of the common pool&apos;s allocation for this stock.
2015-07-20; vol. 80 # 138 - Monday, July 20, 201580 FR 42747 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-17678 RIN0648-BD64 Docket No.130822745-5611-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective January 1, 2016. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis final rule implements an information collection program for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. The information collection program is intended to obtain more detailed information about individuals and businesses that hold fishery quota allocation in these individual transferable quota fisheries. This action is necessary to ensure that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has the information needed to develop a future management action intended to establish an excessive share cap in these fisheries.
2015-06-30; vol. 80 # 125 - Tuesday, June 30, 201580 FR 37181 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-16019 RIN0648-XD98 Docket No.140117052-4402-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective June 29, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement is intended to inform the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
80 FR 37182 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-15619 RIN0648-BE50 Docket No.140904749-5507-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. This rule is effective July 30, 2015. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 30, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis final rule implements approved management measures contained in the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment to the fishery management plans of the Greater Atlantic Region, developed and submitted to NMFS by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. This amendment is necessary to respond to a remand by the U.S. District of Columbia Court of Appeals decision concerning observer coverage levels specified by the SBRM and to add various measures to improve and expand on the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology previously in place. The intended effect of this action is to implement the following: A new prioritization process for allocation of observers if agency funding is insufficient to achieve target observer coverage levels; bycatch reporting and monitoring mechanisms; analytical techniques and allocation of at-sea fisheries observers; a precision-based performance standard for discard estimates; a review and reporting process; framework adjustment and annual specifications provisions; and provisions for industry-funded observers and observer set-aside programs.
2015-06-26; vol. 80 # 123 - Friday, June 26, 201580 FR 36723 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closures for the Common Pool Fishery and Trip and Possession Limit Adjustment
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-15680 RIN0648-XE00 Docket No.150105004-5355-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; area closures and trip and possession limit adjustments. This action is effective June 23, 2015, through August 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action closes the Gulf of Maine cod Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to all Northeast multispecies common pool vessels; the American plaice Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool trawl vessels; and the Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool trawl and gillnet vessels, for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2015. The closures are required by regulation because the common pool fishery has caught over 90 percent of its Trimester 1 quotas for Gulf of Maine cod, American plaice, and Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder. These closures are intended to prevent the overharvest of the common pool&apos;s allocation for these stocks. Because the common pool catch of American plaice and Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder is not limited to the respective stocks&apos; Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area, this action also reduces possession and trip limits for the American plaice and Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder stocks to zero for all common pool vessels through August 31, 2015, in order to prevent the overharvest of the common pool&apos;s allocation of both stocks from areas not closed by this action. The possession and trip limit for GOM cod was set to zero in a previous action.
2015-06-19; vol. 80 # 118 - Friday, June 19, 201580 FR 35255 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Fishing Year 2015
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-15086 RIN0648-BE89 Docket No.150211144-5509-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective June 19, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS is implementing management measures for the 2015 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. The implementing regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish recreational measures for each fishing year. The intent of these measures is to constrain recreational catch to established limits and prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources.
2015-06-18; vol. 80 # 117 - Thursday, June 18, 201580 FR 34841 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Possession Limit Adjustments for the Common Pool Fishery
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-14942 RIN0648-XD98 Docket No.150105004-5355-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; inseason adjustment. Effective June 15, 2015, through April 30, 2016. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action decreases the possession and landing limit for Gulf of Maine cod to zero for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2015 fishing year. NMFS is taking this action because the common pool has caught 44.5 percent of its Trimester 1 Total Allowable Catch Gulf of Maine cod quota in the first month of the trimester. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the common pool&apos;s fishing year 2015 allocation of Gulf of Maine cod and prevent the closure of the Gulf of Maine to all common pool vessels before the end of the Trimester.
2015-06-09; vol. 80 # 110 - Tuesday, June 9, 201580 FR 32480 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Special Management Zones for Delaware Artificial Reefs
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-14021 RIN0648-BD42 Docket No.130702585-5454-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective July 9, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS issues final regulations to implement Special Management Zones for four Delaware artificial reefs under the black sea bass provisions of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. These measures are necessary to promote orderly use of fisheries resources on artificial reefs by reducing user group conflicts, and are intended to maintain the intended socioeconomic benefits of the artificial reefs to the maximum extent practicable.
2015-06-04; vol. 80 # 107 - Thursday, June 4, 201580 FR 31864 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish Fishery; Secretarial Emergency Action
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-13407 RIN0648-BE97 Docket No.150311250-5474-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule, emergency action. Effective June 4, 2015, through December 1, 2015, except for the amendment to the “Tilefish” definition in § 648.2, which is effective June 4, 2015. Comments must be received on or before July 6, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis temporary rule implements possession limits for the blueline tilefish fishery in waters north of the Virginia/North Carolina border as requested by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. These emergency management measures are necessary to temporarily constrain fishing effort on the blueline tilefish stock while a long-term management plan is developed. The rule is expected to reduce fishing mortality and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the stock.
2015-05-28; vol. 80 # 102 - Thursday, May 28, 201580 FR 30379 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-12871 RIN0648-BE87 Docket No.150205118-5443-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective May 28, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis final rule implements the New England Fishery Management Council&apos;s recommended fishing year 2015-2017 specifications and management measures for the small-mesh multispecies fishery, clarifies what measures can be modified in a specifications package, and corrects the northern red hake accountability measure. This action is necessary to ensure that catch of these species does not exceed applicable limits.
2015-05-01; vol. 80 # 84 - Friday, May 1, 201580 FR 25110 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Framework Adjustment 53
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-09952 RIN0648-BE75 Docket No.150105004-5355-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule; request for comments. Effective May 1, 2015. Comments on the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule must be received by June 30, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis final rule approves and implements Framework Adjustment 53 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This rule sets fishing years 2015-2017 catch limits for several groundfish stocks, modifies management measures for Gulf of Maine cod, and adopts other measures to improve the management of the groundfish fishery. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and achieve the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan. The final measures are intended to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.
80 FR 25143 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; 2015 and 2016 Sector Operations Plans and 2015 Contracts and Allocation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-09950 RIN0648-XD46 Docket No.140821699-5361-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Sector operations plans and regulatory exemptions are effective May 1, 2015, through April 30, 2017. Northeast multispecies annual catch entitlements for sectors are effective May 1, 2015, through April 30, 2016. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryWe have partially approved sector operations plans and contracts for fishing years 2015 and 2016, granting regulatory exemptions for fishing years 2015 and 2016, and providing Northeast multispecies annual catch entitlements to approved sectors for fishing year 2015. Approval of sector operations plans is necessary to allocate annual catch entitlements to the sectors and for the sectors to operate. The Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan allows limited access permit holders to form sectors, and requires sectors to submit their operations plans and contracts to us, NMFS, for approval or disapproval. Approved sectors are exempt from certain effort control regulations and receive allocations of Northeast multispecies based on its members&apos; fishing history.
80 FR 25160 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Fishing Year 2015; Recreational Management Measures
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-09951 RIN0648-BE82 Docket No.150305221-5221-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Interim final rule; request for comments. Effective May 1, 2015. Comments must be received by June 1, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action implements a reduction to the minimum size for Gulf of Maine haddock taken in the recreational fishery. This action is necessary to ensure that the recreational catch of haddock and recreational bycatch of cod will not exceed the annual catch limits for the recreational fishery in fishing year 2015. The intended effect of this action is to reduce discards of cod and haddock by allowing recreational anglers to retain smaller haddock, which will result in anglers achieving their bag limit more quickly.
2015-04-21; vol. 80 # 76 - Tuesday, April 21, 201580 FR 22119 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery and Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 26; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Sea Turtle Conservation
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-09199 RIN0648-BE68 Docket No.141125999-5362-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective May 1, 2015, except for the amendment to § 648.51(b)(4)(iv), which will be effective May 21, 2015. 50 CFR Parts 223 and 648 SummaryNMFS approves and implements through regulations the measures included in Framework Adjustment 26 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. The purpose of Framework 26 is to prevent overfishing, improve yield-per-recruit, and improve the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. Framework 26 sets fishing specifications for 2015, including catch limits, days-at-sea allocations, individual fishing quotas, and sea scallop access area trip allocations. In addition, Framework 26 closes a portion of the Elephant Trunk Access Area and extends the boundaries of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area to protect small scallops, adjusts the State Waters Exemption Program, allows for Vessel Monitoring System declaration changes for vessels to steam home with product on board, implements a proactive accountability measure to protect windowpane flounder and yellowtail flounder, aligns two gear measures designed to protect sea turtles, and implements other measures to improve the management of the scallop fishery. Aligning the gear measures designed to protect sea turtles involves modifying existing regulations implemented under the Endangered Species Act; therefore, this action is implemented under joint authority of the Endangered Species Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
2015-04-16; vol. 80 # 73 - Thursday, April 16, 201580 FR 20446 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-08735 RIN0648-XD87 Docket No.140117052-4402-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective April 15, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement is intended to inform the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
2015-03-25; vol. 80 # 57 - Wednesday, March 25, 201580 FR 15692 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Black Sea Bass Fishery; Framework Adjustment 8
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-06797 RIN0648-BE60 Docket No.141103917-5223-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective April 24, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS is implementing regulations consistent with Framework Adjustment 8 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. This action allows the black sea bass recreational fishery to begin on May 15 of each year, instead of May 19, to provide additional fishing opportunities earlier in the year, unless otherwise modified by further rulemaking.
2015-03-20; vol. 80 # 54 - Friday, March 20, 201580 FR 14870 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Specifications and Management Measures
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-06401 RIN0648-BE49 Docket No.140902739-5224-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective April 20, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS is implementing 2015 specifications and management measures for Atlantic mackerel, 2015-2017 specifications for Illex squid, 2015-2017 specifications for longfin squid, and 2015-2017 specifications for butterfish. This action also establishes a simplified butterfish fishery closure mechanism. These specifications set catch levels to prevent overfishing and allocate catch to commercial and recreational fisheries. Additionally, the simplified butterfish closure mechanism makes operation of the fishery more efficient and consistent with the higher catch limit for butterfish. These specifications and management measures are consistent with the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan and the recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
2015-03-09; vol. 80 # 45 - Monday, March 9, 201580 FR 12349 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Fishing Year 2014 Sector Exemption
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-05366 RIN0648-XD77 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final grant of regulatory exemptions. The effective dates of these regulatory exemptions are from March 4, 2015 through April 30, 2015. The regulatory exemptions were applicable on March 3, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThe Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has approved a request for exemptions from two recently implemented Gulf of Maine cod interim management measures.
2015-03-05; vol. 80 # 43 - Thursday, March 5, 201580 FR 11918 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-05118 RIN0648-XD79 Docket No.140117052-4402-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective March 2, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement is intended to inform the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
2015-03-03; vol. 80 # 41 - Tuesday, March 3, 201580 FR 11331 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Fishing Year 2014; Interim Gulf of Maine Cod Management Measures; Correction
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-04319 RIN0648-BE56 Docket No.141002822-5169-03 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule, correcting amendment. Effective February 26, 2015, until May 12, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis document makes corrections to the Gulf of Maine cod interim regulations published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2014. This document corrects regulatory text by including the exemption from certain seasonal interim closure areas for vessels fishing for whiting in the Small Mesh Area 1 and 2 Exempted Areas with a raised footrope trawl. These two exempted areas, which overlap with certain seasonal closure areas, were inadvertently overlooked in the interim rule. This action does not make any substantive changes to the interim rule regulations.
2015-03-02; vol. 80 # 40 - Monday, March 2, 201580 FR 11139 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-04215 RIN0648-XD77 Docket No.140117052-4402-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective February 25, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of New Jersey. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement is intended to inform the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
2015-02-12; vol. 80 # 29 - Thursday, February 12, 201580 FR 7808 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Adjustments to 2015 Annual Catch Limits
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-02941 RIN0648-XD53 Docket No.141002820-5113-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary final rule; adjustment of specifications. Effective February 12, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action adjusts 2015 annual catch limits for the Atlantic herring fishery to account for the underharvest of herring catch in 2013. The herring fishery caught less than its allocated catch in all herring management areas in 2013. As a result, this action adds unharvested 2013 catch to the 2015 herring catch limits, equal to ten percent of the allocated 2013 annual catch limit for each area. While the annual catch limit for each area increases, the total annual catch limit for the herring fishery will not increase under this action. This will ensure that the carryover pounds do not cause overfishing of the herring resource in 2015. This action is necessary to ensure that NMFS accounts for herring catch consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan.
2015-01-20; vol. 80 # 12 - Tuesday, January 20, 201580 FR 2612 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trip Limit Adjustment for the Common Pool Fishery
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-00696 RIN0648-XD63 Docket No.140106011-4338-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; inseason trip limit adjustment. This action is effective January 20, 2015, through April 30, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action reduces the possession limit for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2014 fishing year. Federal regulations allow NMFS to adjust the trip limit, if necessary, to help ensure that a common pool quota is not exceeded. The common pool has caught 79 percent of its Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder quota. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the common pool&apos;s 2014 fishing year allocation of Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder.
2015-01-15; vol. 80 # 10 - Thursday, January 15, 201580 FR 2021 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Framework Adjustment 52
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-00417 RIN0648-BE22 Docket No.140507412-5014-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. This final rule is effective on January 14, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS has approved Framework Adjustment 52 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This final rule contains two modifications to the current windowpane flounder accountability measures. First, the size of the accountability measure gear-restricted areas can be reduced if we determine that improvements in windowpane flounder stock health occurred despite the catch limits being exceeded. Second, the duration of the accountability measure can be shortened if we determine that an overage of the catch limit did not occur in the year following the overage. This action allows us to implement accountability measures based on more current survey and catch data and increases fishing opportunities for the groundfish fishery while still preventing overfishing.
2014-12-30; vol. 79 # 249 - Tuesday, December 30, 201479 FR 78311 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2015 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Specifications and 2015 Commercial Summer Flounder Quota Adjustments
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-30500 RIN0648-XD65 Docket No.140117052-4402-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2015 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Specifications and 2015 commercial summer flounder state quotas. Effective January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS is announcing revised commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits for the 2015 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries, as well as the commercial summer flounder state quotas for fishing year 2015. This is necessary to incorporate adjustments to the quotas due to the suspension of the Research Set-Aside program, implement an accountability measure for the commercial black sea bass fishery, and, for summer flounder state quotas, account for any previously unaccounted for overages from fishing year 2013 and any known overages to date from fishing year 2014. The intent of this action is to modify the established harvest levels to ensure that these species are not overfished or subject to overfishing in 2015.
2014-12-29; vol. 79 # 248 - Monday, December 29, 201479 FR 77946 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Fishing Year 2014; Interim Gulf of Maine Cod Management Measures; Correction
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-30106 RIN0648-BE56 Docket No.141002822-4999-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule, correction; extension of expiration date. Effective December 29, 2014, until May 12, 2015, except for amendatory instruction 2 of this rule, which expires on April 30, 2015. The expiration dates in amendatory instructions 2, 4a and c, and 5 through 12, published in FR Rule Doc. No. 2014-26844, November 13, 2014, at 79 FR 67362, for the amendments to §§ 648.2, 648.14, 648.80, 648.81, 648.82, 648.85, 648.86, 648.87, 648.88, and 648.89, respectively, are extended until May 12, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis document makes corrections to the Gulf of Maine cod interim regulations published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2014. This notice allows gillnet vessels to switch their designation as either a Day or Trip gillnet vessel, an opportunity that was inadvertently not provided in the original interim action. This notice also makes several corrections and clarifications, including where the Gulf of Maine cod trip limit applies, to ensure consistency with measures implemented in the interim action. In this document, we extend the expiration date of certain temporary amendments.
2014-12-23; vol. 79 # 246 - Tuesday, December 23, 201479 FR 76917 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-30032 RIN0648-XD65 Docket No.121009528-2729-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective December 18, 2014, through December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a portion of its 2014 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and announcing the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
2014-12-04; vol. 79 # 233 - Thursday, December 4, 201479 FR 71960 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Framework Adjustment 3
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-28131 RIN0648-BE01 Docket No.140221166-4963-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective December 4, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS implements final regulations to establish a process for setting river herring (alewife and blueback) and shad (American and hickory) catch caps for the herring fishery. This action also sets these catch caps for the 2014 and 2015 fishing years. The river herring and shad caps in the herring fishery will limit how much of these species will be caught in the herring fishery. This action will allow the New England Fishery Management Council to set river herring and shad catch caps and associated measures in future years through specifications or frameworks, whichever is appropriate. The measures in this action are a positive step in conservation efforts for river herring and shad.
2014-12-02; vol. 79 # 231 - Tuesday, December 2, 201479 FR 71339 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Commercial Quota Harvested for the State of New Jersey
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-28379 RIN0648-XD57 Docket No.140117052-4402-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 0001 hours, November 29, 2014, through December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the 2014 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the State of New Jersey has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in New Jersey for the remainder of calendar year 2014, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer from another state. Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery require publication of this notification to advise New Jersey that the quota has been harvested, and to advise Federal vessel and dealer permit holders that no Federal commercial quota is available for landing summer flounder in New Jersey.
2014-11-26; vol. 79 # 228 - Wednesday, November 26, 201479 FR 70472 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-28037 RIN0648-XD60 Docket No.140214138-4482-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective November 21, 2014, through December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of its 2014 commercial bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
2014-11-13; vol. 79 # 219 - Thursday, November 13, 201479 FR 67362 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Fishing Year 2014; Emergency Gulf of Maine Cod Management Measures
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-26844 RIN0648-BE56 Docket No.141002822-4933-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; interim action; request for comments. Effective November 13, 2014, until May 12, 2015. Comments must be received by December 13, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis temporary rule implements commercial and recreational fishery management measure changes for Gulf of Maine cod protection in response to a recent updated assessment of the status of this severely depleted stock. The measures of this interim rule are necessary to reduce fishing mortality on GOM cod and to provide additional stock and spawning protection. The intended effect of these interim measures are to decrease fishing year 2014 catch so that overfishing is reduced and protect the stock until more permanent measures can be developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council).
2014-11-12; vol. 79 # 218 - Wednesday, November 12, 201479 FR 67090 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Gulf of Maine Haddock Annual Catch Limit Revision
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-26748 RIN0648-BE45 Docket No.140903748-4748-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; emergency action. Effective November 12, 2014, through May 11, 2015. Comments must be received by December 12, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action implements new stock status determination criteria for Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock and increases the associated GOM haddock catch limits for the remainder of fishing year 2014 based on the most recent and best available scientific information. This action is intended to provide additional commercial fishing opportunities for GOM haddock and other healthy groundfish stocks.
2014-11-07; vol. 79 # 216 - Friday, November 7, 201479 FR 66323 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; Notification of Butterfish Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-26413 RIN0648-XD60 Docket No.130903775-4276-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; inseason adjustment. Effective November 3, 2014, through December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS transfers quota to the 2014 butterfish domestic annual harvest allocation from the butterfish mortality cap on the longfin squid fishery in order to prevent an overage of the directed butterfish fishery. This action complies with the 2014 specifications and management measures for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.
79 FR 66324 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-26412 RIN0648-XD58 Docket No.140214138-4482-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; quota transfer. Effective November 3, 2014 through December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the State of Florida is transferring a portion of its 2014 commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
2014-10-29; vol. 79 # 209 - Wednesday, October 29, 201479 FR 64330 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Tilefish Fishery; 2015-2017 Specifications
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-25741 RIN0648-BE37 Docket No.140822715-4882-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective November 1, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS issues final specifications for the commercial tilefish fishery for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 fishing years. This action establishes the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limit, total allowable landings, and harvest allocations for the individual fishing quota and incidental fishery components of the commercial tilefish fishery. The intent of this action is to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan.
2014-10-28; vol. 79 # 208 - Tuesday, October 28, 201479 FR 64128 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; 2014 Sub-Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Harvested for Management Area 1A
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-25635 RIN0648-XD57 Docket No.130919816-4205-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; directed fishery closure. Effective 0001 hr local time, October 26, 2014, through December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS is closing the directed herring fishery in management Area 1A, because it projects that 92 percent of the 2014 catch limit for that area will have been caught by the effective date of this action. This action is necessary to comply with the regulations implementing the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan and is intended to prevent excess harvest in Area 1A.
2014-10-24; vol. 79 # 206 - Friday, October 24, 201479 FR 63563 - Revisions to Framework Adjustment 51 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and Sector Annual Catch Entitlements; Updated Annual Catch Limits for Sectors and the Common Pool for Fishing Year 2014
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-25307 RIN0648-XD35 Docket No.140624530-4848-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary final rule; adjustment to specifications. Effective October 23, 2014, through April 30, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryBased on the final Northeast multispecies sector rosters, we are adjusting the fishing year 2014 specification of annual catch limits for commercial groundfish vessels, as well as sector annual catch entitlements for groundfish stocks by adding carried over catch from fishing year 2013 and reducing quotas for some stocks by the amount of overages exceeding their limits in fishing year 2013, among other adjustments. This revision to fishing year 2014 catch levels is necessary to account for changes in the number of participants electing to fish in sectors.
Title 50 published on 2014-10-01The following are ALL rules, proposed rules, and notices (chronologically) published in the Federal Register relating to 50 CFR Part 648 after this date.2015-07-29; vol. 80 # 145 - Wednesday, July 29, 201580 FR 45100 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery
2015-07-10; vol. 80 # 132 - Friday, July 10, 201580 FR 39731 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking for Gulf of Maine Cod
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-16891 RIN0648-XE00 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of agency decision. The petition for rulemaking was denied on June 4, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryIn response to the most recent stock assessment for Gulf of Maine cod, which indicated that the stock is at historically low abundance levels, a group of environmental organizations have requested that NMFS initiate rulemaking to make the following changes: prohibit commercial and recreational fishing for Gulf of Maine cod until the incidental fishing mortality does not exceed the acceptable biological catch limit; and limit catch, including discards, to the level that achieves the fishing mortality that meets rebuilding requirements, in accordance with Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. After reviewing the petition and considering recent management measures we have implemented to prevent overfishing of Gulf of Maine cod and promote Gulf of Maine cod rebuilding efforts, we are denying the Petition for Rulemaking request.
2015-06-02; vol. 80 # 105 - Tuesday, June 2, 201580 FR 31343 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Omnibus Amendment To Simplify Vessel Baselines
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-13349 RIN0648-BB40 Docket No.110907562-5455-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Written comments must be received on or before July 17, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS proposes to approve an Omnibus Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the Northeastern United States to simplify vessel baselines. This Omnibus Amendment to Simplify Vessel Baselines, which was submitted by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils, would eliminate the one-time limit on vessel upgrades and remove gross and net tonnages from the vessel baseline specifications that are considered when determining a vessel&apos;s baseline for replacement purposes. Implementing these measures would reduce the administrative burden to permit holders and NMFS and would have little effect on fleet capacity. This proposed rule would also remove the requirement for vessels to send in negative fishing reports ( i.e., “did not fish” reports) during months or weeks when fishing did not occur. NMFS no longer needs these reports due to improved trip-level matching. Therefore, NMFS is proposing to remove this requirement to simplify the regulations and reduce reporting burdens for the industry.
80 FR 31347 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; Jonah Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah Crab Fishery
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-13408 RIN0648-BF07 Docket No.150506428-5468-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for comments. June 2, 2015 is established as the “control date” for the Jonah crab fishery, and may be used as a reference date for future management measures related to the Jonah crab fishery, consistent with applicable Federal laws and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission&apos;s recommendations. Written comments must be received on or before July 2, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis notice announces a control date that may limit or restrict access into the Jonah crab fishery in Federal waters. This action is necessary to inform fishery participants that we are considering future action. We intend for this notice to promote awareness of possible future rulemaking, and discourage speculative entry into and/or investment in the Jonah crab fishery.
2015-05-19; vol. 80 # 96 - Tuesday, May 19, 201580 FR 28575 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Framework Adjustment 9
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-12060 RIN0648-BF00 Docket No.150401329-5437-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule, request for comments. Public comments must be received by June 18, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryFramework Adjustment 9 proposes management measures to further enhance catch monitoring and address discarding catch before it has been sampled by observers (known as slippage), in the Atlantic mackerel fishery. Framework 9 would implement slippage consequence measures, and a requirement that slippage events be reported via the vessel monitoring system. For allowable slippage events, due to safety, mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny dogfish, vessels must move 15 nm from the location of the slippage event. For non-allowable slippage events, due to reasons other than those listed previously, vessels must terminate their fishing trip. Slippage events have the potential to substantially affect analysis or extrapolations of incidental catch, including river herring and shad, these proposed measures are designed to address this issue.
2015-05-18; vol. 80 # 95 - Monday, May 18, 201580 FR 28217 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Omnibus Amendment To Simplify Vessel Baselines
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-11902 RIN0648-BB40 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of availability of fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. Comments must be received on or before July 17, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils have submitted an Omnibus Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the Northeastern United States to simplify vessel baselines. This amendment incorporates a draft Environmental Assessment and preliminary Regulatory Impact Review, for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce, and NMFS is requesting comments from the public. The Omnibus Amendment to Simplify Vessel Baselines would eliminate the one-time limit on vessel upgrades and remove gross and net tonnages from vessel baseline specifications considered when determining a vessel&apos;s baseline for replacement purposes. Implementing these measures would reduce the administrative burden to permit holders and NMFS, and would have little effect on fleet capacity. This action would also remove the requirement for vessels to send in negative fishing reports ( i.e., “did not fish” reports) during months or weeks when fishing did not occur.
2015-05-05; vol. 80 # 86 - Tuesday, May 5, 201580 FR 25656 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Fishing Year 2015
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-10434 RIN0648-BE89 Docket No.150211144-5144-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. local time, on May 20, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS proposes management measures for the 2015 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. The implementing regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of these measures is to constrain recreational catch to established limits and prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources.
2015-04-27; vol. 80 # 80 - Monday, April 27, 201580 FR 23249 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2015 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-09684 RIN0648-XD74 Docket No.150126074-5074-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed specifications; request for comments. Comments must be received on or before May 12, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS proposes specifications for the 2015 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including catch restrictions for commercial and recreational fisheries. This action is necessary to establish effective catch constraints for the fishing year consistent with regulatory and statutory requirements. The intent of this action is to establish the allowable 2015 harvest levels and other management measures to achieve the target fishing mortality rate, consistent with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan.
2015-04-08; vol. 80 # 67 - Wednesday, April 8, 201580 FR 18801 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-08078 RIN0648-BE87 Docket No.150205118-5290-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Public comments must be received by April 23, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThe purpose of this action is to set the small-mesh multispecies specifications for the 2015-2017 fishing years, clarify what measures can be modified in a specifications package, and to correct the northern red hake accountability measure trigger rate. This action is necessary to implement the Council&apos;s recommended measures intended to reduce the risk of continuing overfishing of northern red hake and set catch and possession limits for the 2015-2017 fishing years. The proposed specifications are designed to help achieve sustainable yield and to inform the public of these measures.
2015-03-17; vol. 80 # 51 - Tuesday, March 17, 201580 FR 13806 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery and Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 26; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Sea Turtle Conservation
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-05650 RIN0648-BE68 Docket No.141125999-5195-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received by April 1, 2015. 50 CFR Parts 223 and 648 SummaryNMFS proposes to approve and implement through regulations measures included in Framework Adjustment 26 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. The purpose of Framework 26 is to prevent overfishing, improve yield-per-recruit, and improve the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. The Framework 26 proposed measures would also: Close a portion of the Elephant Trunk Access Area and extend the boundaries of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area to protect small scallops; adjust the State Waters Exemption Program; allow for Vessel Monitoring System declaration changes for vessels to steam home with product on board; implement a proactive accountability measure to protect windowpane flounder and yellowtail flounder; align two gear measures designed to protect sea turtles; and implement other measures to improve the management of the scallop fishery. Aligning the gear designed to protect sea turtles involves modifying existing regulations implemented under the Endangered Species Act; therefore, this action would be implemented under joint authority of the Endangered Species Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
80 FR 12380 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; 2015 and 2016 Sector Operations Plans and 2015 Contracts and Allocation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-05386 RIN0648-XD46 Docket No.140821699-5191-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Written comments must be received on or before March 24, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryWe propose to approve 17 sector operations plans and contracts for fishing years 2015 and 2016, grant regulatory exemptions for fishing years 2015 and 2016, and provide Northeast multispecies annual catch entitlements to these sectors for fishing year 2015. We request comment on the proposed sector operations plans and contracts; the environmental assessment analyzing the impacts of the operations plans; and our proposal to grant (in whole or partially) 19 of the 22 regulatory exemptions requested by the sectors. Approval of sector operations plans is necessary to allocate annual catch entitlements to the sectors and for the sectors to operate. The Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan allows limited access permit holders to form sectors, and requires sectors to submit their operations plans and contracts to us, NMFS, for approval or disapproval. Approved sectors are exempt from certain effort control regulations and receive allocation of Northeast multispecies based on its members&apos; fishing history. This document also announces the target at-sea monitoring coverage rate for sector trips for fishing year 2015.
80 FR 12394 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Framework Adjustment 53
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-05383 RIN0648-BE75 Docket No.150105004-5190-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received by March 24, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryThis action proposes approval of, and regulations to implement, Framework Adjustment 53 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This rule would set fishing years 2015-2017 catch limits for several groundfish stocks, modify management measures for Gulf of Maine cod, and adopt other measures to improve the management of the groundfish fishery. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and achieve the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan. The proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.
2015-01-21; vol. 80 # 13 - Wednesday, January 21, 201580 FR 2898 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2015-00878 RIN0648-BE50 Docket No.140904749-4999-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received on or before February 20, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS proposes regulations to implement the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment developed by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. This amendment was developed, in part, to respond to a remand by the U.S. District of Columbia Court of Appeals decision in Oceana v. Locke. The amendment also adds various measures to improve and expand on the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology previously in place. The proposed measures include: A new prioritization process for allocation of observers if agency funding is insufficient; bycatch reporting and monitoring mechanisms; analytical techniques and allocation of at-sea fisheries observers; a performance standard; a review and reporting process; framework adjustment and annual specifications provisions; and provisions for industry-funded observers and observer set-aside programs. In addition to responding to the DC Court of Appeals remand, this action is necessary to re-establish and improve the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology for all 13 Greater Atlantic Region Fishery Management Plans, as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, after the previous methodology was vacated by the 2011 Court order.
79 FR 78022 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Black Sea Bass Fishery; Framework Adjustment 8
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-30266 RIN0648-BE60 Docket No.141103917-4917-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. local time, on January 28, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 8 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. This action would allow the black sea bass recreational fishery to begin on May 15 of each year, instead of May 19, to provide additional fishing opportunities earlier in the year.
2014-12-15; vol. 79 # 240 - Monday, December 15, 201479 FR 74056 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Region Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-29216 RIN0648-BE50 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of availability of proposed fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. Comments must be received on or before February 13, 2015. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils have submitted an Omnibus Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the Northeastern U.S. to establish a Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology, incorporating a draft Environmental Assessment and preliminary Regulatory Impact Review, for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce, and is requesting comments from the public. The Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment would establish a standardized bycatch reporting methodology for all 13 Fishery Management Plans in the region, as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The proposed measures include: Bycatch reporting and monitoring mechanisms; analytical techniques and allocation of at-sea fisheries observers; a standardized bycatch reporting methodology performance standard; a review and reporting process; framework adjustment and annual specifications provisions; a prioritization process; and provisions for industry-funded observers and observer set-aside programs.
2014-11-17; vol. 79 # 221 - Monday, November 17, 201479 FR 68396 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Framework Adjustment 52
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-27084 RIN0648-BE22 Docket No.140507412-4914-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received by December 2, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryFramework Adjustment 52 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan proposes two modifications to the windowpane flounder accountability measures. First, the size of the accountability measure gear restricted areas could be reduced if NMFS determines that improvements in windowpane flounder stock health occurred despite the catch limits being exceeded. Second, the duration of the accountability measure could be shortened if NMFS determines that an overage of the catch limit did not occur the previous fishing year. The proposed measures would allow NMFS to implement accountability measures based on more current survey and catch data. This proposed action is intended to increase fishing opportunities for the groundfish fishery while still preventing overfishing.
2014-11-14; vol. 79 # 220 - Friday, November 14, 201479 FR 68202 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Specifications and Management Measures
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-26980 RIN0648-BE49 Docket No.140902739-4739-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule, request for comments. Public comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern standard time, on December 15, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS proposes 2015 specifications and management measures for Atlantic mackerel, 2015-2017 specifications for Illex squid, 2015-2017 specifications for longfin squid, and 2015-2017 specifications for butterfish. This action also proposes simplifying the butterfish fishery closure mechanism. These proposed specifications and management measures are intended to promote the utilization and conservation of the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish resources.
2014-10-02; vol. 79 # 191 - Thursday, October 2, 201479 FR 59472 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery; Information Collection
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-23432 RIN0648-BD64 Docket No.130822745-4627-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; reopening of comment period. The comment period for the proposed rule published August 7, 2014 (79 FR 46233), is reopened. Public comment must be received by October 17, 2014. 50 CFR Part 648 SummaryNMFS reopens the comment period on the proposed rule to implement an information collection program for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery that published on August 7, 2014. The original comment period closed on September 8, 2014. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council requested the comment period be reopened to allow for additional public comment through October 17, 2014, to be submitted after this proposed action is discussed at the upcoming Council meeting.