[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5517]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 990422103-9209-02; 031099B]
RIN 0648-AL75


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Fishery Management 
Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; 
Extension of an Interim Rule

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

ACTION: Extension of expiration date.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notification to inform the public that the 
interim rule published on September 9, 1999, to implement conservation 
equivalencies for the summer flounder fishery is extended through 
September 5, 2000. Without this extension, the interim rule would 
expire on March 9, 2000. The extension allows states to continue to 
implement measures for the summer flounder recreational fishery that 
are alternatives to the annual Federal measures, yet achieve a 
reduction in fishing mortality equivalent to that achieved by the 
annual Federal measures.

DATES: The rule, effective September 2, 1999, through March 9, 2000, 
extends its expiration date from March 9, 2000, to September 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Regulatory 
Impact Review (RIR) prepared for the initial action are available from: 
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Raizin, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    An interim rule implementing conservation equivalencies for the 
summer flounder recreational fishery was published on September 9, 1999 
(64 FR 48965), and will expire on March 9, 2000. The interim rule 
allows states to select a combination of minimum fish sizes, possession 
limits, and closed seasons to meet a target reduction in the 
recreational harvest limit for summer flounder. A combination of these 
measures must accomplish the same reduction as those implemented for 
the recreational fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Under 
the interim rule, states that wish to implement equivalent measures 
must submit proposed management options to the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission (Commission) for approval. Once the Commission 
approves a state equivalency proposal, the Commission is required to 
recommend to NMFS that notification be published in the Federal 
Register to waive the default measures implemented for the EEZ and 
notify the public of equivalent measures.
    The interim rule allowed for the implementation and publication of 
conservation equivalencies for the 1999 fishery. To provide the same 
mechanism for the 2000 fishery, the effectiveness of this rule must be 
extended. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
included conservation equivalency as part of its recommended management 
measures for 2000. In addition, the Council is preparing an amendment 
to the Fishery Management Plan for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea 
Bass to implement conservation equivalency on a permanent basis; 
however, the amendment is not yet complete. Because the interim rule 
will expire on March 9, 2000, NMFS finds it necessary to extend the 
interim rule to allow the establishment of conservation equivalencies 
for the 2000 fishery. This extension is effective through September 5, 
2000.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 1, 2000.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended 
as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. In Sec. 648.107(a), the first sentence is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 648.107  Conservation equivalent measures for the recreational 
summer flounder fishery.

    (a) Through September 5, 2000, states may implement on an annual 
basis conservation equivalent measures that reduce the recreational 
catch to the same extent as the annual Federal summer flounder measures 
specified under Sec. 648.100(c) to achieve the recreational harvest 
limit in any year.* * *
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[FR Doc. 00-5517 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
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