[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 174 (Thursday, September 9, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20423]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 040112010-4114-02; I.D. 090204D]


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast (NE) 
Multispecies Fishery; Closure of the Closed Area II (CA II) Yellowtail 
Flounder Special Access Program (SAP)

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

ACTION:  Closure of CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP for fishing year 
2004.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), is closing the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP 
to all NE multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) vessels, effective September 
3, 2004. Vessels that have not yet departed on a trip to fish in the 
SAP as of September 3, 2004, may not begin a trip into the SAP.

DATES:  Effective September 3, 2004, through April 30, 2005.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the CA II Yellowtail 
Flounder SAP are found at 50 CFR 648.85(b)(3). The regulations 
authorize vessels issued a valid limited access NE multispecies DAS 
permit to participate in the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP and to fish 
in the CA II Yellowtail Flounder Access Area, under specific 
conditions. Unless otherwise authorized by the Regional Administrator, 
eligible vessels are restricted to two trips per month into the SAP, 
and the maximum total number of trips allowed into the SAP by all NE 
multispecies vessels combined is 320 trips for fishing year 2004. The 
Regional Administrator is authorized by Sec.  648.85(a)(3)(iv)(D) to 
modify certain regulations pertaining to the U.S./Canada Management 
Area in order to prevent over-harvesting or under-harvesting of the 
yellowtail flounder total allowable catch, including the number of 
total trips allowed into this SAP. The Regional Administrator, based 
upon Vessel Monitoring System reports and other available information, 
has determined that 320 trips into the SAP have been taken and that, 
according to the regulations, no additional NE multispecies DAS vessels 
may depart port to begin a trip into the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP.

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:September 2, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20423 Filed 9-3-04; 2:49 pm]
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