[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56765-56766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22617]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 010319075-1217-02; I.D. 082902B]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Tilefish Fishery; 
Quota Harvested for Part-time Category

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

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the percentage of the tilefish annual 
total allowable landing (TAL) available to the Part-time category has 
been harvested. Commercial vessels fishing under the Part-time tilefish 
category may not harvest tilefish from within the golden tilefish 
management unit for the remainder of the 2002 fishing year (through 
October 31, 2002). Regulations governing the tilefish fishery require 
publication of this notification to advise the public of this closure.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs local time, September 5, 2002, through 2400 
hrs local time, October 31, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan A. Murphy, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, at (978) 281-9252.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the tilefish fishery 
are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specification of a TAL for federally permitted tilefish vessels 
harvesting tilefish from within the tilefish management unit. The 
golden tilefish management unit is defined as an area of the Atlantic 
Ocean from the latitude of the VA and NC border (36[deg]33.36' N. 
lat.), extending eastward from the shore to the outer boundary of the 
exclusive economic zone, and northward to the United States-Canada 
border. After 5 percent of the TAL is deducted to reflect landings by 
vessels issued an open-access incidental permit category, and after up 
to 3 percent of the TAL is set aside for research purposes, the 
remaining TAL is distributed among three limited access permit 
categories, Full-time tier 1 category (66 percent), Full-time tier 2 
category (15 percent), and the Part-time category (19 percent).
    The TAL for tilefish for the 2002 fishing year was set at 1.995 
million lb (905,172 kg) and then adjusted downward by 5 percent to 
1,895,250 lb (859,671 kg) to account for incidental catch. There was no 
research set-aside for the 2002 fishing year. Thus, the Part-time 
category quota for the 2002 fishing year, which is equal to 19 percent 
of the TAL, is 360,098 lb (163,337 kg).
    The Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) monitors the commercial tilefish quota for each fishing 
year using dealer reports, vessel catch reports, and other available 
information to determine when the quota for each limited access 
category is projected to be harvested. NMFS is required to publish a 
notification in the Federal Register notifying commercial vessels and 
dealer permit holders that, effective upon a specific date, the 
tilefish TAL for the specific limited access category has been 
harvested and no commercial

[[Page 56766]]

quota is available for harvesting tilefish by that category for the 
remainder of the year, from within the golden tilefish management unit.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based upon dealer 
reports and other available information, that the 2002 tilefish TAL for 
the Part-time category has been harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 
hrs local time, September 5, 2002, further landings of tilefish 
harvested from within the golden tilefish management unit by tilefish 
vessels holding Part-time category Federal fisheries permits are 
prohibited through October 31, 2002. The 2003 fishing year for 
commercial tilefish harvest will open on November 1, 2002. Federally 
permitted dealers are also advised that, effective September 5, 2002, 
they may not purchase tilefish from Part-time category federally 
permitted tilefish vessels who land tilefish harvested from within the 
golden tilefish management unit, for the remainder of the 2002 fishing 
year (through October 31, 2002).

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 29, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-22617 Filed 8-30-02; 4:26 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S