[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23197]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 021017238-2314-02; I.D. 090503B]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam 
and Ocean Quahog Fishery; Quota Harvested for Maine Mahogany Quahog 
Fishery

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the annual quota for the Maine mahogany 
quahog fishery has been harvested. Commercial vessels operating under a 
Maine mahogany quahog permit may not harvest Maine mahogany quahogs 
from the Maine mahogany quahog zone for the remainder of the fishing 
year (through December 31, 2003). Regulations governing the Maine 
mahogany quahog fishery require publication of this notification to 
advise the public of this closure.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs local time, September 12, 2003, through 2400 
hrs local time, December 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas W. Christel, 978-281-9141; fax 
978-281-9135; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations governing the Maine mahogany 
quahog fishery appear at 50 CFR section 648.76. The annual quota for 
the harvest of mahogany quahogs within the Maine mahogany quahog zone 
for the 2003 fishing year was established at 100,000 Maine bu (35,150 
hL). The quota may be revised annually by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (Council) within the range of 17,000 to 100,000 
Maine bu (5,975 and 35,150 hL, respectively). The Maine mahogany quahog 
zone is defined as the area bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada 
maritime boundary, on the south by a straight line at 43[deg]50' N. 
lat., and on the north and west by the shoreline of Maine.
    The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) 
monitors the commercial Maine mahogany quahog quota for each fishing 
year using dealer and other available information to determine when the 
quota is projected to have been harvested. NMFS is required to publish 
notification in the Federal Register informing commercial vessel permit 
holders that, effective upon a specific date, the Maine mahogany quahog 
quota has been harvested and no commercial quota is available for 
harvesting mahogany quahogs by vessels possessing a Maine mahogany 
quahog permit for the remainder of the year, from within the Maine 
mahogany quahog zone.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based upon dealer 
reports and other available information, that the 2003 Maine mahogany 
quahog quota has been harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hrs local 
time, September 12, 2003, further landings of Maine mahogany quahogs 
harvested from within the Maine mahogany quahog zone by vessels 
possessing a Maine mahogany quahog Federal fisheries permit are 
prohibited through December 31, 2003. The 2004 fishing year for Maine 
mahogany quahog harvest will open on January 1, 2004.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: September 8, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23197 Filed 9-8-03; 4:30 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S