[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31648]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 652

[Docket No. 900124-0127; I.D. 120794A]

 

Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fishery

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

ACTION: Notification of suspension of surf clam minimum size limit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS informs the public that the minimum size limit of 4.75 
inches (12.065 cm) for Atlantic surf clams is suspended for the 1995 
fishing year. The intended effect is to reduce a regulatory burden 
while safeguarding the resource.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1995, through December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Raizin, Resource Policy Analyst, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; telephone: 508-281-9104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    A final rule implementing Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fishery (FMP) was 
published on June 14, 1990 (55 FR 24184). Section 652.22(a)(1) allows 
the Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, (Regional Director) to suspend 
annually, by publication of a document in the Federal Register, the 
minimum size limit for Atlantic surf clams. This action may be taken 
unless discard, catch, and survey data indicate that 30 percent of the 
Atlantic surf clam resource is smaller than 4.75 inches (12.065 cm), 
and the overall reduced size is not attributable to beds where growth 
of the individual clams has been reduced because of density-dependent 
factors.
    At its September meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council (Council) accepted the recommendations of its Statistical and 
Scientific Committee and Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog Committee and voted to 
recommend that the Regional Director suspend the minimum size limit. 
NMFS port agents conducted a random sample of landed surf clams in 
1994. Results indicate that only 27.33 percent of the sample was 
composed of clams that were less than 4.75 inches (12.065 cm). Based on 
the sampling results, the Regional Director adopts the Council's 
recommendation and publishes this notice to suspend the minimum size 
limit for Atlantic surf clams for the period January 1, 1995, through 
December 31, 1995.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR part 652 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 20, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31648 Filed 12-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F