[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 21 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4691-4692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1659]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011807C]


Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Fisheries of the Southeast 
Region; Fisheries off West Coast States; and Fisheries in the Western 
Pacific

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

ACTION: Notification of determinations of overfishing, and a need to 
revise a rebuilding plan.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that overfishing is 
occurring in fisheries for northeast winter skate; Gulf of Mexico (GOM) 
gag and gray triggerfish; and Eastern Pacific Ocean yellowfin tuna. 
NMFS has also determined that the rebuilding plan for GOM greater 
amberjack needs to be revised. NMFS notified the respective regional 
fishery management councils (Councils) responsible for these fisheries 
of its determinations by letter. The Councils are required to take 
action within one year following NMFS notification that overfishing is 
occurring or a stock is approaching overfishing, a stock is overfished 
or approaching an overfished condition, or existing remedial action 
taken to end overfishing or rebuild an overfished stock has not 
resulted in adequate progress.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Millikin, telephone: (301) 713-
2341.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to sections 304(e)(2) and (e)(7) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2) and (e)(7), and implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(e)(2), NMFS sends written notification to 
fishery management councils when overfishing is occurring or a stock is 
approaching overfishing; a stock is overfished or approaching an 
overfished condition, or existing action taken to end previously 
identified overfishing or rebuilding a previously identified overfished 
stock or stock complex has not resulted in adequate progress. On 
October 11, 2006, the NMFS Southeast Regional Administrator sent a 
letter, notifying the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GOM 
Council) that overfishing is occurring in GOM gag and gray triggerfish. 
Pursuant to section 304(e)(7) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act , NMFS also 
notified the GOM Council in the same letter that the rebuilding plan 
for GOM greater amberjack needs to be revised so that it can still 
rebuild to the stock's target biomass (Bmsy) by the end of 
the time frame for that stock's rebuilding plan.
    On October 17, 2006, the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator sent 
a letter notifying the New England Fishery Management Council that 
overfishing is occurring in the winter skate fishery.
    On October 25, 2006, the NMFS Southwest Regional Administrator sent 
a letter notifying the Pacific Fishery Management Council that 
overfishing is occurring on the Eastern Pacific Ocean stock of 
yellowfin tuna.
    Copies of the notification letters sent to the fishery management 
councils for the aforementioned determinations are

[[Page 4692]]

available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm.
    Within one year of a notification under Magnuson-Stevens Act 
sections 304(e)(2) or (e)(7), the respective Council must take remedial 
action in response to the notification, to end overfishing if 
overfishing is occurring; rebuild an overfished stock or stock complex 
to the abundance that can produce maximum sustainable yield within an 
appropriate time frame; prevent overfishing from occurring if a stock 
is approaching overfishing; and/or prevent a stock from becoming 
overfished if it is approaching an overfished condition (see 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(e)(3)). Such action must be 
submitted to NMFS within one year of notification and may be in the 
form of a new fishery management plan (FMP), an FMP amendment, or 
proposed regulations.

    Dated: January 29, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1659 Filed 1-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S