[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 208 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63696-63697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25585]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK56


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery; 2009 Fishing Quotas for Atlantic 
Surfclams and Ocean Quahogs

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam 
and ocean quahog fisheries for 2009 remain status quo. Regulations 
governing these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the 
allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from 
the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Federal Register if the previous 
year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

ADDRESSES: Written inquiries may be sent to Edward Stern, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Stern, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9177; fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries (FMP) requires that NMFS issue 
notification in the Federal Register of the upcoming year's quota, even 
in cases where the quota remains unchanged from the previous year. At 
its June 2008 meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
voted that no action be taken to change the quota specifications for 
Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs for the 2009 fishing year (January 
1 through December 31, 2009), and recommended maintaining the 2008 
quota levels of 3.4 million bu (181 million L) for Atlantic surfclams, 
5.333 million bu (284 million L) for ocean quahogs, and 100,000 Maine 
bu (3.524 million L) for Maine ocean quahogs, as announced in the 
Federal Register on January 4, 2008 (73 FR 820).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


[[Page 63697]]


    Dated: October 22, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25585 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S