[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66692-66693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9228]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051017270-5339-02; I.D. 083106D]


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: Temporary rule; 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 
limited access 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, 2006). Regulations governing 
the Maine mahogany quahog fishery require publication of this 
notification to advise the public of this closure. This closure does 
not apply to vessels with a Maine mahogany quahog permit that are 
fishing under an ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ).

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs local time, November 14, 2006, through 2400 
hrs local time, December 31, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis, 978-281-9273; fax 978-
281-9135; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations governing the Maine mahogany 
quahog fishery appear at 50 CFR part 648, subpart E. The annual quota 
for the harvest of mahogany quahogs within the Maine mahogany quahog 
zone for the 2006 fishing year was established at 100,000 Maine bu 
(35,150 hL), as stated in the final rule published on December 28, 2005 
(70 FR 76715). 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. If the quota is projected to 
be reached, 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 limited access Maine mahogany quahog 
permit for the remainder of the year, from within the Maine mahogany 
quahog zone. This does not apply, however, to vessels with a Maine 
mahogany quahog permit that are fishing under an ocean quahog ITQ, and 
utilizing ITQ cage tags.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based upon dealer 
reports and other available information, that the 2006 Maine mahogany 
quahog quota has been harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hrs local 
time, November 16, 2006, further landings of Maine mahogany quahogs 
harvested from within the Maine mahogany quahog zone by vessels 
possessing a limited access Maine mahogany quahog Federal fisheries 
permit are prohibited through December 31, 2006. The 2007 fishing

[[Page 66693]]

year for Maine mahogany quahog harvest will open on January 1, 2007.

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: November 8, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9228 Filed 11-13-06; 2:42 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S