[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 126 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40059-40060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16463]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 991228354-0078-02; I.D. 062300C]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Closure of Fishery for Loligo Squid

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the directed fishery for Loligo squid in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be closed. Vessels issued a 
Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 
2,500 lb (1.13 mt) per trip of Loligo squid for the remainder of the 
quota period. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from 
exceeding the Period II quota and allow for rebuilding of this 
overfished stock, while allowing for fishing throughout the year.

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, July 2, 2000, through 0001 hours, 
September 1, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Ferreira, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9103, fax 978-281-9135, e mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Loligo squid 
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specifications for initial optimum yield as well as the amounts for 
allowable biological catch, domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic 
annual processing, joint venture processing, and total allowable levels 
of foreign fishing for the species managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The procedures for 
setting the annual initial specifications are described in Sec. 648.21.
    The 2000 specification of DAH for Loligo squid was set at 13,000 mt 
(65 FR 16341, March 28, 2000). This amount is allocated by trimester 
based on the following table.

               Table 2.--Loligo 4-Month Period Allocations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Metric
              4-month Period                      Percent         Tons
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I (Jan-Apr)                                                42     5,460
II (May-Aug)                                               18     2,340
III (Sep-Dec)                                              40     5,200
Total                                                     100    13,000
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    Section 648.22 requires the closure of the directed Loligo squid 
fishery in the EEZ when 90 percent of the DAH for Loligo squid is 
harvested in either Period I or II, or 95 percent is harvested in 
Period III. NMFS is further required to notify, in advance of the 
closure, the Executive Directors of the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils; mail notification of the 
closure to all holders of Loligo squid permits at least 72 hours

[[Page 40060]]

before the effective date of the closure; provide adequate notice of 
the closure to recreational participants in the fishery; and publish 
notification of the closure in the Federal Register.
    The regulations at 50 CFR 648.22 require NMFS to close the Loligo 
squid directed fishery when 90 percent of the Period II quota is 
harvested. The 2000 Period II quota for Loligo squid is 2,340 mt or 
5,159,700 lbs (65 FR 16341, March 28, 2000). NMFS has determined, based 
on landings and other available information, that 90 percent of the DAH 
for Loligo squid in Period II, will be harvested by July 1, 2000. 
Therefore, effective 0001 hours, July 2, 2000, the directed fishery for 
Loligo squid is closed and vessels issued Federal permits for Loligo 
squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt). The directed 
fishery will reopen effective 0001 hours, September 1, 2000, which 
marks the beginning of the Period III quota.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 26, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-16463 Filed 6-26-00; 3:18 pm]
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