[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44286-44287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18188]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XVOO1


Determination of Overfishing or an Overfished Condition

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

[[Page 44287]]

Commerce (Secretary), has found that the northern subpopulation of 
Pacific sardine is now overfished. NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, 
notifies the appropriate regional fishery management council (Council) 
whenever it determines that overfishing is occurring, a stock is in an 
overfished condition, or a stock is approaching an overfished 
condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina Spallone, (301) 427-8568.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 304(e)(2) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2), NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, 
must notify Councils, and publish in the Federal Register, whenever it 
determines that a stock or stock complex is subject to overfishing, 
overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.
    NMFS has determined that the northern subpopulation of Pacific 
sardine is now overfished. The most recent assessment for Pacific 
sardine, finalized in 2019, using data through 2018 and estimating a 
stock size on July 1, 2019, indicates that the stock is overfished 
because the biomass is projected to be less than the minimum stock size 
threshold. NMFS has informed the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
that it must develop a rebuilding plan for this stock.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1854 et seq.

    Dated: August 20, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-18188 Filed 8-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P