[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 248 (Friday, December 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 73766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE33


Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of 
Summer Flounder

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that summer flounder 
is overfished. NMFS notified the Mid-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 a stock is overfished 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 
December 3, 2007, the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator sent a 
letter notifying the Council that summer flounder is overfished. Summer 
flounder is currently under a rebuilding plan. The Council must 
therefore ensure that overfishing is ended and that the stock rebuilds 
on schedule. 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.

    Dated: December 20, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25271 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S