[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50952-50953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21371]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 697

[I.D. 081500A]


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provision; 
Atlantic Coast Horseshoe Crab Fishery; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is considering implementing a closed area to provide 
conservation for horseshoe crabs near the mouth of Delaware Bay. NMFS 
will hold three public hearings to receive comments from fishery 
participants and other members of the public regarding its proposal to 
prohibit fishing for, and possession of, horseshoe crabs (Limulus 
polyphemus) in a designated area in Federal waters (EEZ) off the mouth 
of the Delaware Bay, with a limited exception for vessels fishing for 
whelk and conch (whelk).

DATES: NMFS will take comments at public hearings in September 2000. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of the public 
hearings.

ADDRESSES: Copies of a Draft Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact 
Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) and a 
draft proposed rule are available from Richard H. Schaefer, Chief, 
Staff Office for Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite

[[Page 50953]]

425, Silver Spring, MD 20910. NMFS will take comments at public 
hearings; for their location see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Perra at 301-427-2014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is considering a prohibition on fishing 
for horseshoe crabs and limiting the possession of horseshoe crabs in a 
roughly rectangular area approximately 1,500 square nautical miles (nm) 
in the EEZ off the mouth of the Delaware Bay. The proposed closed area 
will cover approximately 1,500 square nm and is bounded as follows: (1) 
On the north by a straight line connecting points 39 deg.14.6'N. lat., 
74 deg.30.9'W. long. (3 nm off of Peck Beach, New Jersey) and 
39 deg.14.6'N lat., 74 deg.22.5'W. long.; (2) On the east by a straight 
line connecting points 39 deg.14.6'N. lat., 74 deg.22.5'W. long. and 
38 deg.22.0'N. lat., 74 deg.22.5'W. long.; (3) On the south side by a 
straight line connecting points 38 deg.22.0'N. lat., 74 deg.22.5'W. 
long. and 38 deg.22.0'N. lat., 75 deg.00.4'W. long. (3 nm off of Ocean 
City, Maryland); and (4) On the west by state waters. The possession of 
horseshoe crabs would be prohibited on all commercial vessels except 
whelk fishing vessels. For whelk fishing vessels, these vessels would 
be allowed to use horseshoe crabs as bait as long as they have only 
whelk traps on board and no other commercial fishing gear. All vessels, 
including whelk vessels, would be prohibited from fishing for horseshoe 
crabs in the closed area. A further description of the measure and the 
purpose and need for the proposed actions are contained in an advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking published on May 3, 2000 (65 FR 25698) 
and in the draft EA/RIR/IRFA and are not repeated here. NMFS intends to 
issue a proposed rule shortly in the Federal Register. Written comments 
on that proposed rule will be accepted during the comment period 
identified in that rule once it is published in the Federal Register. 
The public hearings announced in this notice are intended to occur 
during that comment period on the proposed rule. Copies of the draft 
proposed rule may be obtained from NMFS (see ADDRESSES or FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION).

Public Hearing Schedule

    NMFS will take comments at public hearings to be held as follows:
    1. Tuesday, September 5, 2000, 7:30-9:30 p.m.--Department of 
Natural Resources and Environmental Control Auditorium, 89 Kings 
Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
    2. Wednesday, September 6, 2000, 6:30-8:30 p.m.--New Jersey Marine 
Advisory Service, Education Center, Dennisville Road, Route 657, Cape 
May Court House, NJ 08210.
    3. Thursday, September 7, 2000, 7-9 p.m.--Wicomico County Free 
Library, 122 South Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21802.
    The purpose of this document is to alert the interested public of 
hearings and provide for public participation.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Richard H. Schaefer (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.

    Dated: August 17, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-21371 Filed 8-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F