[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1559]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 070717340-7550-01]
RIN 0648-AV40


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Specifications and Management Measures

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reopens the comment period on the proposed rule to 
implement 2008 specifications and management measures for Atlantic 
mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB) fisheries for 7 days.

DATES: The deadline for written comments on the December 28, 2007 (72 
FR 73749), proposed rule is reopened to no later than 5 p.m. on 
February 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-AV40, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking portal http://www.regulations.gov;
     Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Carrie Nordeen;
     Mail to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 
Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 2008 MSB 
Specifications''.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (e.g., name, address, 
etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted 
in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Nordeen, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978- 281-9272, fax 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS is required to publish proposed specifications for the MSB 
fisheries, after reviewing recommendations from the Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council (Council). At its June 12-14, 2007, meeting 
in Hampton, VA, the Council recommended 2008 MSB specifications and 
management measures. For butterfish, the Council recommended reducing 
the butterfish quota to levels approximating recent landings while a 
butterfish rebuilding program is being developed in Amendment 10 to the 
Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. 
Consistent with the lower butterfish quota recommended for 2008, the 
Council also recommended lowering the butterfish incidental possession 
limit from 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) per day to a scaled incidental possession 
limit, such that a 250-lb (0.11-mt) incidental possession limit would 
be associated with a fishery closure prior to October 1 and a 600-lb 
(0.27-mt) incidental possession limit would be associated with a 
fishery closure on or after October 1.
    However, incidental possession limits for butterfish apply not only 
during a fishery closure, but also year-round to vessels issued 
butterfish incidental possession permits. At its June 2007 meeting, the 
Council did not explicitly recommend an incidental butterfish 
possession limit for vessels issued a butterfish incidental catch 
permit. Therefore, in the proposed rule for the 2008 MSB specifications 
and management measures (72 FR 73749, December 28, 2007), NMFS proposed 
a year-round, 250-lb (0.11-mt) butterfish possession limit for vessels 
issued incidental butterfish catch permits, similar to the Council's 
recommended incidental butterfish possession limit during a fishery 
closure, and invited the Council to comment on whether this measure is 
consistent with the Council's intent.
    On January 11, 2008, NMFS received a letter from the Council 
requesting that NMFS reopen the comment period on the proposed rule for 
the 2008 MSB specifications and management measures for 7 days. 
Reopening this comment period will enable the Council to consider the 
2008 MSB management measures at its January 29-31, 2008, meeting, and 
develop a position and formal comments on the butterfish incidental 
possession limit for vessels issued a butterfish incidental catch 
permit. Therefore, consistent with the Council's request, NMFS is 
reopening the comment period on the 2008 MSB specifications and 
management measures proposed rule to 5 p.m. on February 5, 2008.

    Dated: January 24, 2008
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator For Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1559 Filed 1-28-08; 8:45 am]
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