[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32998-32999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16027]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 980318066-8066-01; I.D. 061198B]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Commercial Cod Harvest

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

ACTION: Reduction of cod landing limit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notification to announce that the 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
projected that 892 metric tons (mt) of the target total allowable catch 
(TAC) for the Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod stock will be harvested as of 
2400 hrs, local time, June 24, 1998, and that vessels fishing under a 
non-exempt multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) may not possess more than 400 
lb (181.4 kg) of cod per DAS for any trip ending on or after 0001 hrs, 
local time, June 25, 1998.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs, local time, June 25, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan A. Murphy, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9252.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing Framework 
Adjustment 25 (63 FR 15326, March 31, 1998) became effective May 1, 
1998. To ensure that GOM cod landings remain within the target TAC of 
1,783 mt established for the 1998 fishing year, Framework 25 provides a 
mechanism to reduce the 700-lb (317.5-kg) per DAS landing limit to as 
low as 400-lb (181.4-kg) per DAS, based on the rate of catch and the 
risk of exceeding the target TAC. Section 648.86(b)(1)(i) specifies 
that this mechanism is triggered when the Regional Administrator has 
projected that 892 mt will be harvested. Further, this section 
stipulates that NMFS will publish notification in the

[[Page 32999]]

Federal Register informing the public of the date of the reduction.
    Based on the available information, the Regional Administrator has 
projected that 892 mt will be reached on 2400 hrs, local time, June 24, 
1998. Given the ratio rate at which this trigger amount was reached, 
the Regional Administrator has determined that the landing limit must 
be reduced to the lowest authorized level. Therefore, the cod landing 
limit, pursuant to Sec. 648.86(b)(1)(i), has been reduced to 400 lb 
(181.4 kg) per DAS, except as provided under Sec. 648.86(b)(1)(ii) and 
(b)(2) for any trip ending on or after 0001 hrs, local time, June 25, 
1998.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12286.

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

    Dated: June 11, 1998.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-16027 Filed 6-12-98; 9:51 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F