[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13534]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 001127331-1044-02; I.D. 052301B]


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) for the second quarter of the year is 
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 per calendar day 
of Loligo squid for the remainder of the quarter. This action is 
necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding the Quarter II quota 
and allow for rebuilding of this overfished stock, while allowing for 
fishing throughout the year.

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, May 29, 2001, through 2400 hours, July 1, 
2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Raizin, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
508-281-9104, fax 978-281-9135, e-mail myles.a.raizin.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Loligo squid 
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require 
specifications for maximum optimal yield, initial optimum yield, 
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 2001 specification of DAH for Loligo squid was set at 17,000 mt 
(66 FR 13024, March 2, 2001). This amount is allocated by quarter, 
based on the following table.

                   Table. Loligo Quarterly Allocations
 
                    Quarter                       Percent    Metric Tons
 
I (Jan-Mar)                                           33.23        5,649
II (Apr-Jun)                                          17.61        2,994
III (Jul-Sep)                                         17.30        2,941
IV (Oct-Dec)                                          31.86        5,416
Total                                                100.00       17,000
 

    Section 648.22 requires NMFS to close the directed Loligo squid 
fishery in the EEZ when 80 percent of the quarterly allocation is 
harvested in Quarters I, II and III, and when 95 percent of the total 
annual DAH has been harvested. 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 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 Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, based on dealer 
reports and other available information, has determined that 80 percent 
of the DAH for Loligo squid in Quarter II, has been harvested. 
Therefore, effective 0001 hours, May 29, 2001, 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) of Loligo. 
Such vessels may not land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of Loligo during 
a calendar day. The directed fishery will reopen effective 0001 hours, 
July 1, 2001, when the Quarter III quota becomes available.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: May 24, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-13534 Filed 5-24-01; 3:13 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S