[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32129]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 112598B]
RIN 0648-AJ44


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies and Monkfish Fisheries; Monkfish Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan; request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Councils (Councils) have submitted the Monkfish Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review and are requesting 
comments from the public.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 1, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Monkfish FMP should be sent to Jon C. 
Rittgers, Acting Regional Administrator, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on 
Monkfish FMP.''
    Copies of the Monkfish FMP, its regulatory impact review, initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, the final environmental impact 
statement, and the supporting documents are available from Paul J. 
Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Martin Jaffe, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP proposes an overfishing definition 
and a 10-year rebuilding schedule to meet the requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) and implementation of the following measures: Target total 
allowable catch levels for each of two management areas; limited 
access; effort limits through days-at-sea allocations; trip limits and 
incidental harvest allowances; minimum size and mesh limits; gear 
restrictions; spawning season closures; a framework adjustment process; 
permitting and reporting requirements, and other measures for 
administration and enforcement.
    A proposed rule that would implement the Monkfish FMP may be 
published in the Federal Register for public comment, following NMFS' 
evaluation of the proposed rule under the procedures of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by 
the end of the comment period on the Monkfish FMP to be considered in 
the approval/disapproval decision on the FMP. All comments received by 
February 1, 1999, whether specifically directed to the FMP or the 
proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision 
on the Monkfish FMP. Comments received after that date will not be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the Monkfish FMP.

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

    Dated: November 27, 1998.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32129 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F