[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18894]



[[Page 43974]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 030514123-3162-02; I.D. 041003B]
RIN 0648-AQ76


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 38 to the Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan; Correcting Amendment

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

ACTION:  Final rule; correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS issued a final rule to implement measures contained in 
Framework Adjustment 38 (Framework 38) to the Northeast (NE) 
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to exempt a fishery from the 
Gulf of Maine (GOM) Regulated Mesh Area mesh size regulations. The 
final rule implementing Framework 38 was published in the Federal 
Register on July 9, 2003. One of the coordinates contained in the Gulf 
of Maine (GOM) Grate Raised Footrope Trawl Whiting Fishery Exemption 
Area table is incorrect. This document corrects that error.

DATES:  This regulation is effective July 25, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  E. Martin Jaffe, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Need for the Correction

    The final rule implementing measures contained in Framework 38 to 
the FMP was published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2003 (68 FR 
40810), and became effective on the date of publication. The North 
Latitude coordinate for Point GRF5 (44[deg] 58.5') in the table, GOM 
Grate Raised Footrope Trawl Whiting Fishery Exemption Area, contained 
in Sec.  648.80(a)(16), is incorrect. The correct North Latitude 
coordinate for Point GRF5 is 43[deg] 58.8'.
    When the Council voted to include the ocean area adjacent to the 
original experimental fishery area because of its similarity to the 
area in which the experimental fishery took place, it incorrectly 
listed the GRF5 decimal point reference as 44.98 N. Latitude in the EA. 
This point reference should have been 43.98 N. Latitude, which converts 
to the geographic coordinates equivalent of 43 58.8'. While 
substitution of the correct geographic coordinates for Point GRF5 does 
not change the seaward boundaries of the fishing area, it removes the 
erroneous landward extension of the fishing area north from the 
shoreline.
    Therefore, because the final rule published on July 9, 2003, which 
was the subject of FR Doc. 03-17106, contained an incorrect coordinate 
in the table contained in Sec.  648.80(a)(16), on page 40810, in the 
third column, in the table contained in Sec.  648.80(a)(16), second 
column under ``N. Lat.'', the last coordinate, ``44[deg] 58.5''' is 
removed, and in its place ``43[deg] 58.8''' is added.
     This document corrects the table under Sec.  648.80(a)(16) as 
follows:

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fishing, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is correctly 
amended to read as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 648 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In Sec.  648.80, the table contained in paragraph (a)(16) is 
corrected to read as follows:


Sec.  648.80  Multispecies regulated mesh areas and restrictions on 
gear and methods of fishing.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (16) * * *

                         GOM GRATE RAISED FOOTROPE TRAWL WHITING FISHERY EXEMPTION AREA
                                          (July 1 through November 30)
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               Point N.                                Lat.W.                               Long.
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GRF1                                                           43[deg] 15'                        70[deg] 35.4'
GRF2                                                           43[deg] 15'                          70[deg] 00'
GRF3                                                         43[deg] 25.2'                          70[deg] 00'
GRF4                                                         43[deg] 41.8'                          69[deg] 20'
GRF5                                                         43[deg] 58.8'                          69[deg] 20'
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* * * * *

    Dated: July 18, 2003.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-18894 Filed 07-24-03; 8:45 am]
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