[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41454-41455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19893]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 010413094-1094-01; I.D. 080201C]


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Deep-
Sea Red Crab Fishery; Closure

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces that, effective 0001 hrs, local time, August 
17, 2001, through 2400 hr, local time, November 14, 2001, vessels may 
not fish for, or possess, red crab harvested from the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) in excess of 100 lb (45.4 kg) per trip. This action 
is based on a determination that the red crab total allowable catch 
(TAC) is projected to be reached as of August

[[Page 41455]]

17, 2001, and is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding the 
TAC established by the emergency rule that was published May 8, 2001.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs, local time, August 17, 2001, through 2400 
hrs, local time, November 14, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Martin Jaffe, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9272, fax 978-281-9135, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 8, 2001, NMFS published a red crab 
emergency interim rule (66 FR 23182) to address concerns that 
overfishing of the red crab resource may be occurring within the EEZ 
from Cape Hatteras Light, NC, northward to the U.S.-Canada border. This 
action contained measures that included a TAC of 2.5 million lb (1,134 
mt) of red crab for the 180-day period of effectiveness for the rule. 
To help ensure that the TAC is not exceeded, this rule also contained 
regulations that require the closure of the directed red crab fishery 
as of the date NMFS determines that the total landings of red crab will 
reach or exceed the TAC. NMFS is required to publish notification of 
such closure in the Federal Register (50 CFR 648.264).
    NMFS has determined, based on landings and other available 
information, that 100 percent of the TAC for red crab will be harvested 
by August 17, 2001. Therefore, effective 0001 hrs, local time, August 
17, 2001, through 2400 hrs, local time, November 14, 2001, 
notwithstanding any other regulations of Subpart M of 50 CFR part 648, 
vessels may not fish for, or possess, red crab harvested from the EEZ 
in excess of 100 lb (45.4 kg) per trip. If NMFS decides to recommend a 
180-day extension of the emergency rule to the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary), and the Secretary approves, a notification will be 
published in the Federal Register to inform the industry.

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: August 3, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19893 Filed 8-3-01; 2:59 pm]
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