[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 169 (Friday, August 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 50330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17335]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB92


Fisheries of the Southeast Region; Overfishing Determination of 
South Atlantic Vermilion Snapper and South Atlantic Gag; Determination 
of South Atlantic Gag Approaching an Overfished Condition

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

ACTION: Notification of determination of overfishing and approaching an 
overfished condition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that South Atlantic 
gag is undergoing overfishing and is approaching an overfished 
condition and that South Atlantic vermilion snapper is also 
experiencing overfishing. NMFS notified the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (Council) of its determination by letter. The 
Council is required to take action within 1 year following notification 
by NMFS that overfishing is occurring, a stock is approaching 
overfishing, a stock is overfished, a stock is 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, a stock is 
approaching overfishing, a stock is overfished, a stock is 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 June 
12, 2007, the NMFS Southeast Regional Administrator sent a letter 
notifying the Council that South Atlantic gag is undergoing overfishing 
and approaching an overfished condition and that South Atlantic 
vermilion snapper is also experiencing overfishing.
    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: August 27, 2007.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-17335 Filed 8-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S