[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 97 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 28475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9753]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

XRIN 0648-XA22


Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of 
Winter Skate

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

ACTION: Notification of overfished determination.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that winter skate is 
overfished. NMFS notified the New England Fishery Management Council 
(Council) of its determination by letter. The Council is required to 
take action within 1 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: Debra Lambert, 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 
February 20, 2007, the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator sent a 
letter notifying the Council that winter skate is overfished.
    A copy of the notification letter sent to the Council for the 
aforementioned determination is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm.
    Within 1 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 1 year of notification and may be in the form 
of a new fishery management plan (FMP), an FMP amendment, or proposed 
regulations.

    Dated: May 16, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9753 Filed 5-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S