[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34833]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 122498C]
RIN 0648-AL31


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 9 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendments to 
Address the Sustainable Fisheries Act Requirements and Other Measures

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

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council 
has submitted Amendment 9 to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review and is requesting comments 
from the public. Amendment 9 addresses new Sustainable Fisheries Act 
requirements for NE multispecies, among other measures.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed rule should be sent to Jon C. 
Rittgers, Acting Regional Administrator, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Proposed Rule 
for Amendment 9 to the NE Multispecies FMP.''
    Copies of Amendment 9, the regulatory impact review, and the 
environmental assessment are available from Paul J. Howard, Executive 
Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, 
MA 01906-1036.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If approved, Amendment 9 would: (1) Include 
Atlantic halibut in the NE Multispecies FMP; (2) Establish new or 
revised overfishing definitions for cod, haddock, pollock, redfish, 
white hake, yellowtail flounder, windowpane flounder, winter flounder, 
American plaice, witch flounder, Atlantic halibut, and ocean pout; (3) 
revise specifications of optimum yield; (4) add a framework process to 
allow for aquaculture projects and modifications to the overfishing 
definitions; (5) postpone the Vessel Monitoring System beyond May 1999; 
(6) prohibit brush-sweep trawl gear when fishing for multispecies; (7) 
increase the winter flounder minimum fish size to 13 inches; and (8) 
implement a one-fish halibut possession limit of 36 inches or greater.
    A proposed rule that would implement Amendment 9 may be published 
in the Federal Register for public comment, following NMFS' evaluation 
of the proposed rule under the procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. Public comments on the 
proposed rule must be received by the end of the comment period on 
Amendment 9 in order to be considered in the approval/disapproval 
decision on the FMP amendment. All comments received by March 8, 1999, 
whether specifically directed to the FMP amendment or the proposed 
rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision. Comments 
received after that date will not be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on the FMP amendment.

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

    Dated: December 29, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34833 Filed 12-30-98; 3:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F