[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 78994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32615]



[[Page 78994]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648


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

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

ACTION:  Directed fishery closure.

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

SUMMARY:  NMFS announces that the directed fishery for Loligo squid in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be closed effective December 24, 
2002, through December 31, 2002. Vessels issued a Federal permit to 
harvest Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 
mt) of Loligo squid per trip for the remainder of the year. This action 
is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding its 2002 quota and 
allow for effective management of this stock.

DATES:  Effective 0001 hours, December 24, 2002, through December 31, 
2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Paul H. Jones, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9273, 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 
specifications for maximum sustainable 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 2002 specification of DAH for Loligo squid was set at 16,898 mt 
(67 FR 3623, January 25, 2002). This amount is allocated by quarter, as 
shown below.

                 Table. 1 Loligo Quarterly Allocations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I (Jan-Mar)                                               33.23    5,615
II (Apr-Jun)                                              17.61    2,976
III (Jul-Sep)                                             17.30    2,923
IV (Oct-Dec)                                              31.86    5,384
Total                                                    100.00   16,898
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 95 percent 
of the total DAH for Loligo squid has been harvested. Therefore, 
effective 0001 hours, December 24, 2002, 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, 
January 1, 2003, when the 2003 quota becomes available.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: December 20, 2002.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-32615 Filed 12-20-02; 4:09 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S