[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 18178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9823]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 697

[I.D. 040698B]


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold public hearings to receive comments on NMFS' 
proposals for management of American lobster in Federal waters. NMFS 
proposes to transfer the Federal legislative authority for American 
lobster from the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (MSA) to the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act 
(ACFCMA). NMFS is seeking public comment on proposed management options 
to regulate American lobster in Federal waters. Also, the existing 
moratorium on new entrants in the EEZ lobster fishery may be extended 
through December 31, 2003, for Federal lobster permit holders.

DATES: Written comments on the lobster management proposals contained 
in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be accepted through 
May 19, 1998. Testimony may be presented at the public hearings, which 
are scheduled to be held from April 27, 1998, through May 19, 1998, in 
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New 
York, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for times and locations of the hearings and special 
accommodations.

ADDRESSES: Direct requests for copies of the lobster public hearing 
document should be sent to the State, Federal and Constituent Programs 
Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region, One 
Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Ross, NMFS, Northeast Region, 978/
281-9234.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS proposes several changes to management 
of the American lobster resource in waters under Federal authority. The 
proposed changes include a transferral of Federal legislative authority 
for American lobster from the MSA to the ACFCMA. Since the majority of 
the American lobster fishery takes place in state waters (approximately 
80 percent), Federal action under the ACFCMA is the best approach for a 
comprehensive management plan for lobster throughout its range. This 
approach will facilitate partnership management in Federal and state 
jurisdictional waters in a time frame to minimize the potential for a 
stock collapse of the resource.
    NMFS is seeking public comment on proposed management options to 
regulate American lobster in Federal waters. Alternatives being 
considered range from a continuation of existing management measures to 
a maximum protection of American lobster in Federal waters by a 
complete removal of all trap gear from the water and a prohibition 
against retention, sale, barter or trade of American lobster taken from 
Federal waters. Other alternatives include a limit on current trap 
effort and implementation of a gradual reduction in the maximum number 
of traps allowed to be fished by Federal lobster permit holders, while 
limiting the non-trap sector to a maximum number of lobsters allowed 
per trip, regardless of trip length.
    Also, the existing moratorium on new entrants to the EEZ lobster 
fishery may be extended until December 31, 2003, for Federal lobster 
permit holders.
    By this action NMFS is announcing 13 public hearings concerning the 
proposed lobster management measures. The dates, time, and locations of 
the hearings are scheduled as follows:
    1. Monday, April 27, 1998, 3 p.m.--Fuller School Auditorium, 4 
School House Road, Gloucester, MA.
    2. Tuesday, April 28, 1998, 3 p.m.--Emmanuel Baptist Church 
Assembly Hall, 156 High Street, Portland, ME.
    3. Wednesday, April 29, 1998, 3 p.m.--Rockland District High School 
Auditorium, 400 Broadway, Rockland, ME.
    4. Thursday, April 30, 1998, 3 p.m.--Downeast Convention Center at 
the Holiday Inn, 215 High Street (U.S. Routes 1 and 3), Ellsworth, ME.
    5. Friday, May 1, 1998, 3 p.m.--University of Maine at Machias, 
Reynolds Center Gym, 9 O'Brien Avenue, Machias, ME.
    6. Tuesday, May 5, 1998, 3 p.m.--Urban Forestry Center, 35 Elwyn 
Road, Portsmouth, NH.
    7. Wednesday, May 6, 1998, 3 p.m.--Narragansett Town Hall Assembly 
Room, 25 Fifth Street, Narragansett, RI.
    8. Thursday, May 7, 1998, 3 p.m.--Howard Johnson Hotel, Dickens 
Room, 1052 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT.
    9. Friday, May 8, 1998, 1 p.m.--Quality Inn of Tom's River, 815 
Route 37 West, Tom's River, NJ.
    10. Monday, May 11, 1998, 6 p.m.--Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 
Admirals Hall, Harrington Building, 101 Academy Dr., Buzzards Bay, MA.
    11. Thursday, May 14, 1998, 3 p.m.--Ramada Inn, Exit 72, Long 
Island Expressway and Route 25, Riverhead, NY.
    12. Monday, May 18, 1998, 5 p.m.--North Carolina Aquarium on 
Roanoke Island, Airport Road, Manteo, NC.
    13. Tuesday, May 19, 1998, 5 p.m.--Sheraton Fontainebleau Hotel, 
10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Bob Ross (see ADDRESSES) at least 
5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1851 et. seq.

    Dated: April 8, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-9823 Filed 4-9-98; 2:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F