[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76222-76223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9785]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 060418103-6181-02 ; I.D. 121306B]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Spiny Dogfish 
Fishery; Commercial Period 2 Quota Harvested

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

ACTION:  Closure of spiny dogfish fishery.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces that the spiny dogfish commercial quota 
available to the coastal states from Maine through Florida for the 
semi-annual quota period, November 1, 2006 - April 30 , 2007, has been 
harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, December 19, 2006, 
federally permitted commercial vessels may not fish for, possess, 
transfer, or land spiny dogfish until May 1, 2007, when the 2007 Period 
1 quota becomes available. Regulations governing the spiny dogfish 
fishery require publication of this notification to advise the coastal 
states from Maine through Florida that the quota has been harvested and 
to advise vessel permit holders and dealer permit holders that no 
Federal commercial quota is available for landing spiny dogfish in 
these states. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from 
exceeding its Period 2 quota and to allow for effective management of 
this stock.

DATES:  Quota Period 2 for the spiny dogfish fishery is closed 
effective at 0001 hr local time, December 19, 2006, through 2400 hr 
local time April 30, 2007. Effective December 19, 2006, federally 
permitted dealers are also advised that they may not purchase spiny 
dogfish from federally permitted spiny dogfish vessels.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Don Frei, Fisheries Management 
Specialist,

[[Page 76223]]

at (978) 281-9221, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the spiny dogfish 
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specification of a commercial quota, which is allocated into two quota 
periods based upon percentages specified in the fishery management 
plan. The commercial quota is distributed to the coastal states from 
Maine through Florida, as described in Sec.  648.230.
    The initial total commercial quota for spiny dogfish for the 2006 
fishing year is 4 million lb (1.81 million kg) (71 FR 40436, July 17, 
2006 ). The commercial quota is allocated into two periods (May 1 
through October 31, and November 1 through April 30). Vessel possession 
limits are intended to preclude directed fishing, and they are set at 
600 lb (272 kg) for both quota Periods 1 and 2. Quota Period 1 is 
allocated 2.3 million lb (1.05 million kg), and quota Period 2 is 
allocated 1.7 million lb (763,849 kg) of the commercial quota. The 
total quota cannot be exceeded, so landings in excess of the amount 
allocated to quota Period 1 have the effect of reducing the quota 
available to the fishery during quota Period 2.
    The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) 
monitors the commercial spiny dogfish quota for each quota period and, 
based upon dealer reports, state data, and other available information, 
determines when the total commercial quota will be harvested. NMFS is 
required to publish a notification in the Federal Register advising and 
notifying commercial vessels and dealer permit holders that, effective 
upon a specific date, the Federal spiny dogfish commercial quota has 
been harvested and no Federal commercial quota is available for landing 
spiny dogfish for the remainder of that quota period.
    Section 648.4(b) provides that Federal spiny dogfish permit holders 
agree, as a condition of the permit, not to land spiny dogfish in any 
state after NMFS has published notification in the Federal Register 
that the commercial quota has been harvested and that no commercial 
quota for the spiny dogfish fishery is available. Therefore, effective 
0001 hr local time, December 19, 2006, landings of spiny dogfish in 
coastal states from Maine through Florida by vessels holding commercial 
Federal fisheries permits are prohibited through April 30, 2007, 2400 
hr local time. The 2007 Period 1 quota will be available for commercial 
spiny dogfish harvest on May 1, 2007. Effective December 19, 2006, 
federally permitted dealers are also advised that they may not purchase 
spiny dogfish from vessels issued Federal spiny dogfish permits that 
land in coastal states from Maine through Florida.

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: December 15, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9785 Filed 12-15-06; 1:30 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S