Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/08/30/01-21952/fisheries-of-the-northeastern-united-states-atlantic-sea-scallop-fishery-framework-adjustment-14
Timestamp: 2017-08-20 18:09:18
Document Index: 313264250

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

Federal Register :: Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Framework Adjustment 14; Correction
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Framework Adjustment 14; Correction
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 08/30/2001
Effective May 1, 2001.
66 FR 45784
45784-45785 (2 pages)
Docket No. 010410087-1087-01
I.D. 031401B
01-21952
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/01-21952 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/01-21952
On May 11, 2001, NMFS published final regulations implementing Framework 14 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). One of the measures implemented in the final rule was the continuation of the Hudson Canyon South and Virginia Beach Area closures originally implemented in 1998 and extended through August 8, 2001, through an interim final rule published on February 9, 2001. In the final rule implementing Framework 14, NMFS intended to extend the Mid-Atlantic closures through February 28, 2003, to scallop fishing with the exception of those vessels participating in the Sea Scallop Area Access Program. However, NMFS inadvertently only amended the regulatory text, which then expired on August 8, 2001. This document corrects those errors.
Peter W. Christopher, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9280; fax 978-281-9135; e-mail peter.christopher@noaa.gov.
-On March 31, 1998, NMFS published an interim final rule (63 FR 15324) closing two Mid-Atlantic areas, the Hudson Canyon South and Virginia Beach Sea Scallop Closed Area, to scallop fishing to protect concentrations of juvenile scallops, to reduce fishing mortality, and to increase yield per recruit. The interim rule became effective from April 3, 1998, and was extended through March 26, 1999 (63 FR 51862, September 29, 1998). On March 29, 1999, NMFS published a final rule implementing Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP. Under Amendment 7 and its implementing regulations, the two Mid-Atlantic area Start Printed Page 45785closures were extended through March 1, 2001. On February 9, 2001, NMFS issued an interim final rule extending the closures of the Mid-Atlantic closed areas on an interim basis for 180 days (i.e., August 8, 2001) or until such time that a controlled area access program for these two areas could be implemented through Framework 14 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, whichever came sooner. On May 1, 2001, NMFS published a final rule (66 FR 21639) implementing Framework 14. However, because this rule contained numerous errors, the document was reprinted in its entirety on May 11, 2001 (66 FR 24052). The final rule implementing Framework 14 became effective on May 1, 2001. That final rule amended portions of § 648.57, Closed and regulated areas. However, § 648.57 was scheduled to expire on August 8, 2001, and, therefore, the “amendments” to § 648.57 implemented under Framework 14 also inadvertently expired on August 8, 2001. NMFS is correcting amendatory instruction 6 of the final rule implementing Framework 14 by “adding” § 648.57 to 50 CFR part 648 and is publishing the regulatory text for this section in its entirety. -
As published, the final regulations published on May 11, 2001 (66 FR 24052) contain errors which may prove to be misleading and are in need of clarification.
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements -
2. Section 648.57 is added to read as follows:
§ 648.57
Closed and regulated areas.
(a) Hudson Canyon Sea Scallop Access Area. Through February 28, 2003, except as provided in §§ 648.52 and 648.58, no vessel may fish for scallops in or land scallops from the area known as the Hudson Canyon Sea Scallop Access Area, and no vessel may possess scallops in the Hudson Canyon Sea Scallop Access Area, unless such vessel is only transiting the area with all fishing gear unavailable for immediate use as defined in § 648.23(b), or, there is a compelling safety reason to be in such areas without all such gear being unavailable for immediate use. The Hudson Canyon Sea Scallop Access Area (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request) is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
H1 39 30′ N. 73 10′ W.
H2 39 30′ N. 72 30′ W.
H3 38 30′ N. 73 30′ W.
H4 38 40′ N. 73 50′ W.
(b) Virginia Beach Sea Scallop Access Area. Through February 28, 2003, except as provided in §§ 648.52 and 648.58, no vessel may fish for scallops in or land scallops from the area known as the Virginia Beach Sea Scallop Access Area, and no vessel may possess scallops in the Virginia Beach Sea Scallop Access Area, unless such vessel is only transiting the areas with all fishing gear unavailable for immediate use as defined in § 648.23(b), or, there is a compelling safety reason to be in such areas without all such gear being unavailable for immediate use. The Virginia Beach Sea Scallop Access Area (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request) is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
V1 37 00′ N. 74 55′ W.
V2 37 00′ N. 74 35′ W.
V3 36 25′ N. 74 45′ W.
V4 36 25′ N. 74 55′ W.
[FR Doc. 01-21952 Filed 8-29-01; 8:45 am]