[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19604-19605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10841]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 652

[I.D. 041996D]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearing

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

ACTION: Public hearing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing to allow for input on Amendment 9 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fishery 
(FMP).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until May 10, 1996. The 
hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 1996, at 6 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to David R. Keifer, Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, Federal Building, 300 
South New Street, Dover, DE 19904-6790. The public hearing will be held 
at the Doubletree Inn, 4101 Island Avenue, Philadelphia, PA (1-800-222-
TREE).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. Keifer, (302) 674-2331; fax 
(302) 674-5399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council proposes to revise the 
overfishing definitions for surf clams and ocean quahogs under 
Amendment 9. The amendment is intended to bring the FMP into compliance 
with the guidelines in 50 CFR 602 that mandate a quantifiable 
definition of overfishing in all FMPs. Overfishing is currently defined 
as the catch of surf clams or ocean quahogs exceeding the annual quota 
for each species. The provisions of the FMP contain annual quotas, 
vessel allocations, and other provisions for cage identification, 
minimum size limits, closed areas, and reporting. Overfishing of surf 
clams and ocean quahogs has not occurred, given the existing stock 
conditions during the past two decades of management. However, NMFS has 
concluded that a stronger biological basis is needed for the 
overfishing definitions for these species, in part due to the lack of 
strong recruitment in recent years.
    The preferred alternative overfishing definition for surf clams is 
a fishing mortality rate of F20% (20 percent of the maximum 
spawning potential (MSP), which equates to an annual exploitation rate 
of 15.3 percent. The preferred alternative overfishing definition for 
ocean quahogs is a fishing mortality rate of F25% (25 percent of 
the MSP), which equates to an annual exploitation rate of 4.3 percent.
    Alternative overfishing definitions for surf clams are:
    1. A fishing mortality rate of Fmax, which corresponds to an 
annual exploitation rate of 16.5 percent.
    2. The Council's current optimum yield (OY) for surf clam ranges 
from 1,850,000 to 3,400,000 bushels. The Council policy is to set the 
quota within an OY range that will allow fishing to continue at that 
level for at least 10 years. Within the above constraint, the quota is 
set at a level that will meet estimated annual demand.
    Alternative overfishing definitions for ocean quahogs are:
    1. A fishing mortality rate of F20%, which corresponds to an 
annual exploitation rate of 5.8 percent.
    2. A fishing mortality rate of F30%, which corresponds to an 
annual exploitation rate of 3.5 percent.
    3. A fishing mortality rate of Fmax, which corresponds to an 
annual exploitation rate of 6.8 percent.
    4. The Council's current OY for ocean quahog ranges from 4,000,000 
to 6,000,000 bushels. The Council policy is to set the quota within an 
OY range that will allow fishing to continue at that level for at least 
30 years. Within the above constraint, the quota is set at a level that 
will meet estimated annual demand.
    This hearing is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to David R. Keifer (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.
    The hearing will be tape recorded with the tapes filed as the 
official transcript of the hearing.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


[[Page 19605]]


    Dated: April 25, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Conservation and Management, National Marine 
Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 96-10841 Filed 5-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F