[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23275-23276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10678]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[ID 042403A]
RIN 0648-A010


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Skate Fisheries; Northeast Skate Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan; request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council 
(Council) has submitted the Northeast Skate Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) for Secretarial review and is requesting comments from the 
public. The FMP would establish a management program and fishing effort 
controls for

[[Page 23276]]

the skate fisheries in the Northeast (NE). The goal of the management 
program is to rebuild overfished skate resources (thorny and barndoor 
skates) and prevent overfishing of all seven skate resources.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, 
``Comments on Northeast Skate FMP.'' Comments may also be sent via 
facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135. Comments will not be accepted if 
submitted via e-mail or the Internet.
    Copies of the FMP, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), 
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA) are available from Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, 
Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Pentony, Senior Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9283, fax 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FMP is to initiate 
management of the fisheries for the species in the NE skate complex 
(barndoor, clearnose, little, rosette, smooth, thorny, and winter 
skates) in Federal waters of the northeastern United States, pursuant 
to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). The FMP was developed by the Council in 
response to concerns that the continued development of and increased 
landings in the skate fisheries required implementation of management 
measures to prevent overfishing and to allow for the collection of 
catch information on the status of the stocks. Because two species of 
skates (barndoor and thorny skates) are considered overfished, this FMP 
is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act to end overfishing and rebuild these species.
    Skates are harvested in two very different fisheries, one for 
lobster bait and one for wings for human consumption. The fishery for 
lobster bait is a more traditional and directed skate fishery, 
involving vessels, primarily from ports in southern New England, that 
target a combination of little skates (estimated to be 90 
percent of landings) and, to a much lesser extent, juvenile winter 
skates (<10 percent of landings). The catch of juvenile winter skates 
mixed with little skates is very difficult to differentiate, due to 
their nearly identical appearance. The fishery for skate wings evolved 
in the 1990s, as skates were promoted as an underutilized species and 
fishermen shifted effort from groundfish and other troubled fisheries 
to skates and dogfish. The wing fishery is a more incidental fishery 
that involves a larger number of vessels located throughout the region. 
Vessels tend to catch skates when targeting other species, such as 
groundfish and monkfish, and land them if the price is sufficient to 
offset the labor costs associated with cutting the wings.
    The need to rebuild the overfished barndoor and thorny skate 
resources and prevent overfishing on the other five species are the 
primary problems needing management attention. Rebuilding overfished 
species is of particular concern because skates are relatively slow-
growing, late-maturing species that produce few young, making them 
particularly vulnerable to overfishing.
    A proposed rule that would implement the FMP will be published in 
the Federal Register for public comment, following NMFS' evaluation of 
the proposed rule under the procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 
Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by the end of the 
comment period on the FMP to be considered in the approval/disapproval 
decision on the FMP. All comments received by June 30, 2003, whether 
specifically directed to the FMP or the proposed rule, will be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the FMP. Any 
comments on the proposed rule received after that date will not be 
considered in the decision to approve or disapprove the FMP.

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

    Dated: April 25, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10678 Filed 4-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S