[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43535-43536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16586]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 040112010-4114-02; I.D. 061004C]


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast (NE) 
Multispecies Fishery; Georges Bank (GB) Cod Hook Sector (Sector) 
Operations Plan

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

ACTION: Notification of Approval of Sector Operations Plan and 
Allocation of GB Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC).

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces approval of an Operations Plan and Sector 
Contract titled ``Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector Operations Plan and 
Agreement'' (Sector Agreement), and the associated allocation of GB 
cod, consistent with regulations implementing Amendment 13 to the NE 
Multispecies Fishery

[[Page 43536]]

Management Plan (FMP). The intent is to allow regulated harvest of 
groundfish by the Sector, consistent with the objectives of the FMP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9347, fax (978) 281-9135, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule implementing Amendment 13 to 
the FMP authorized the allocation of up to 20 percent of the annual GB 
cod TAC to the GB Cod Hook Sector. NMFS provided interested parties an 
opportunity to comment on the proposed Sector Agreement through 
notification published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2004 (69 FR 
34335); additional background and details of the Sector Agreement are 
contained in that notification and are not repeated here. One comment 
was received, which urged conservative fishery management, but which 
was not specifically directed to the proposed Sector Agreement.
    After consideration of the proposed Sector Agreement and the 
comment received, NMFS has concluded that the Sector Agreement, which 
contains the Sector Contract and Operations Plan, is consistent with 
the goals of the FMP and other applicable law and is in compliance with 
the regulations governing the development and operation of a sector as 
specified under 50 CFR 648.87.
    There are 58 members of the approved Sector. As specified in 
Amendment 13, the Sector's allocation of GB cod has been determined by 
dividing the sum of the total landings of GB cod by the Sector members 
for the fishing years 1996 through 2001 (when fishing with jigs, 
demersal longline, or handgear), by the sum of the total accumulated 
landings of GB cod harvested by all NE multispecies vessels for the 
same time period. Based on the landings history of the 58 Sector 
members, the approved Sector TAC of GB cod is 371 mt, which is 12.587 
percent of the total GB cod TAC. Letters of Authorization will be 
issued to each member of the Sector exempting them, conditional upon 
their compliance with the Sector Agreement, from the GB cod possession 
restrictions and the requirements of the Gulf of Maine trip limit 
exemption program, limits on the number of hooks, and the GB Seasonal 
Closure Area, as specified in Sec. Sec.  648.86(b), 648.80(a)(4)(v), 
and 648.81(g), respectively.

Classification

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


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

    Dated: July 15, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16586 Filed 7-20-04; 8:45 am]
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