[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14349-14350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04734]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC677]
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 Commerce (Secretary), has found that the following stocks
of fish are now subject to overfishing or overfished: Gulf of Maine
haddock, Gulf of Mexico cubera snapper, Gulf of Mexico Jacks Complex,
and Gulf of Mexico Mid-water Snapper Complex are now subject to
overfishing, and Pacific bluefin tuna, Pacific sardine, Bering Sea snow
crab, Saint Matthew Island blue king crab, Southern New England/Mid-
Atlantic yellowtail flounder, Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Atlantic
wolffish, Northwestern Atlantic ocean pout, Northwestern Atlantic witch
flounder, Atlantic herring, Atlantic halibut, and Georges Bank
yellowtail flounder all continue to be overfished. NMFS, on behalf of
the Secretary, notifies the appropriate regional fishery management
council (Council) whenever it determines that a stock or stock complex
is subject to overfishing, overfished, or 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 a notice 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 Gulf of Maine haddock, Gulf of Mexico
cubera snapper, Gulf of Mexico Jacks Complex, and Gulf of Mexico Mid-
water Snapper Complex are now subject to overfishing. The Gulf of Maine
haddock determination is based on the most recent assessment, completed
in 2022 and using data through 2021, which indicates that this stock is
subject to overfishing because the fishing mortality rate was above the
threshold. The Gulf of Mexico stocks--cubera snapper, Jacks Complex,
and Mid-water Snapper Complex--were not assessed in 2022, so landings
data from 2021 were used to support the status determination of subject
to overfishing. For each of the Gulf of Mexico stocks or complexes,
2021 landings were greater than their respective overfishing limit.
NMFS has notified the New England Council (for haddock) and the Gulf of
Mexico Council (for the Gulf of Mexico stocks) of their requirement to
end overfishing on these stocks.
NMFS has determined that Pacific bluefin tuna, Pacific sardine,
Bering Sea snow crab, Saint Matthew Island blue king crab, Southern New
England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder, Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank
Atlantic wolffish, Northwestern Atlantic ocean pout, Northwestern
Atlantic witch flounder, Atlantic herring, Atlantic halibut, and
Georges Bank yellowtail flounder all remain overfished.
The Pacific bluefin tuna determination is based on the most recent
assessment, conducted by the International Scientific Committee for
Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean completed in 2022
using data through 2020. Applying domestic status determination
criteria, this stock remains overfished because the spawning stock
biomass is below its threshold. The Pacific sardine determination is
based on the most recent assessment, conducted in 2022 using data from
2021 and supports a determination that the stock remains overfished
because the biomass level is below its threshold. NMFS continues to
work with the Pacific Council to rebuild these stocks.
The Bering Sea snow crab and Saint Matthew Island blue king crab
determinations are based on the most recent assessments, completed in
2022 using data through 2022, which indicate that the stocks remain
overfished because the biomass estimates are below their thresholds.
NMFS continues to work with the North Pacific Council to rebuild these
stocks.
The Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder, Gulf of
Maine/Georges Bank Atlantic wolffish, Northwestern Atlantic ocean pout,
and Northwestern Atlantic witch flounder determinations are based on
the most recent assessment, completed in 2022 using data through 2021,
which supports the determinations that these stocks remain overfished
because the biomass estimates are below their thresholds. The Atlantic
herring determination is based on the most recent assessment, finalized
in 2022, using data through 2021, which
[[Page 14350]]
supports a determination that the stock continues to be overfished
because the biomass remains below its threshold. The Atlantic halibut
and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder determinations are based on
qualitative estimates of stock size, suggesting that biomass is low.
NMFS continues to work with the New England Council to rebuild these
stocks.
Dated: March 3, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04734 Filed 3-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P