[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 43 (Thursday, March 4, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10189-10190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4875]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 040223065-4065-01; I.D. 020604A]
RIN 0648-AR91


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Shrimp Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Control Date

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

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; revised control date.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
considering whether there is a need to impose additional management 
measures limiting entry into the commercial penaeid shrimp fishery in 
the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In anticipation of 
such an action, the Council previously established a control date of 
September 8, 2000. This document is to inform the public that the 
Council is establishing a revised control date of December 10, 2003. If 
the Council and NMFS determine that there is a need to impose 
additional management measures to control participation in the fishery, 
a rulemaking to do so may be initiated. Should the Council base such 
rulemaking on this control date, anyone entering the fishery after the 
control date would not be assured of future access in the fishery.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by April 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, South 
Carolina 29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366; fax: 843-769-4520; email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Steve Branstetter 727-570-5305; 
email: [email protected] or Ms. Vishwanie Maharaj 843-571-
4366; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The commercial penaeid shrimp fishery in the 
South Atlantic Region is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) as prepared by 
the Council and approved and implemented by NMFS. The FMP is 
implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    The Council has concerns that increased participation in the South 
Atlantic commercial penaeid shrimp fishery could result in an excess 
harvesting capacity for the fishery. The Council previously established 
a control date of September 8, 2000 (65 FR 54474). At its December 2003 
meeting, the Council voted unanimously to establish a revised control 
date for the commercial penaeid shrimp fishery in the South Atlantic 
EEZ and requested that NMFS notify the industry by publishing a notice 
of the control date in the Federal Register. Accordingly, NMFS 
publishes this notice to notify the industry that December 10, 2003, is 
the revised control date for the commercial penaeid shrimp fishery in 
the South

[[Page 10190]]

Atlantic EEZ. Implementation of any program that limits participation 
or effort in the penaeid shrimp fishery would require preparation of an 
FMP amendment followed by Secretary of Commerce (Secretarial) review, 
approval, and implementation. Secretarial review involves publication 
of a notice of availability of the FMP amendment and publication of 
proposed and final rules, with pertinent public comment periods.
    Establishment of a control date does not commit the Council or NMFS 
to any particular management regime or criteria for entry into this 
fishery. Fishermen are not guaranteed future participation in the 
fishery regardless of their entry date or intensity of participation in 
the fishery before or after the control date under consideration. The 
Council may choose to use a different control date or a management 
regime that does not make use of such a date or to give variably 
weighted consideration to fishermen active in the fishery before and 
after the control date. Other qualifying criteria, such as 
documentation of landings and sales, may be applied for entry. The 
Council may also choose to take no further action to control entry or 
access to the fishery, in which case the control date may be rescinded.
    This advanced notice of proposed rulemaking has been determined to 
be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: February 27, 2004.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-4875 Filed 3-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S