[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3043]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 652

[Docket No. 931072-4027; 092193C]

 

Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries

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

ACTION: 1994 fishing quotas for surf clams and ocean quahogs.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues final quotas for the Atlantic surf clam and ocean 
quahog fisheries for 1994. The quotas are set annually to prevent 
overfishing and to establish a basis for setting individual quotas 
under the Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean 
Quahog Fisheries (FMP). These final quotas were selected from a range 
defined as optimum yield (OY) for each fishery. The intent of this 
action is to establish allowable harvests of surf clams and ocean 
quahogs from the exclusive economic zone in 1994.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's 
analysis and recommendations are available from David Keifer, Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, Federal 
Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, DE 19901.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Myles Raizin (Resources Policy Analyst) 508-281-9104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP directs the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary), in consultation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council (Council), to specify quotas for surf clams and ocean quahogs 
on an annual basis from a range to represent the OY for each fishery.
    For surf clams, the quota must fall within the OY range of 1.85 
million bushels and 3.40 million bushels. For ocean quahogs, the quota 
must fall within the range of 4.00 million bushels and 6.00 million 
bushels.
    In specifying the quotas, the Secretary considered the latest 
available stock assessments prepared by NMFS, data reported by 
harvesters and processors, and other relevant information concerning 
exploitable biomass and spawning biomass, fishing mortality rates, 
stock recruitment, projected effort and catches, and areas closed to 
fishing. This information was presented in a written report prepared by 
the Council and adopted by the Regional Director, Northeast Region, 
NMFS.
    Proposed quotas of 2.85 million bushels for surf clams and 5.4 
million bushels for ocean quahogs were recommended by the Council.
    This action establishes a surf clam quota of 2.85 million bushels 
and an ocean quahog quota of 5.4 million bushels for the 1994 
fisheries, which are identical to the 1993 quotas. These quotas 
established by the Secretary are unchanged from the proposed quotas 
NMFS published in the Federal Register on November 3, 1993 (58 FR 
58681). The public comment period ended on December 2, 1993. No 
comments were received.
    The final quotas for the 1994 Atlantic surf clam and ocean quahog 
fisheries are as follows:

                   1994 Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog Quotas                   
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                                                            1994 final  
                        Fishery                             quotas (in  
                                                             bushels)   
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Surf clam...............................................       2,850,000
Ocean quahog............................................       5,400,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Matters

    This action is taken under authority of 50 CFR part 652.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 652

    Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

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

    Dated: February 4, 1994.
Nancy Foster,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-3043 Filed 2-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M