Notices. Closure
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/register/2000/06/29/00-16463A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 991228354-0078-02; I.D. 062300C] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Closure of Fishery for *Loligo* Squid AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Closure. SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the directed fishery for *Loligo* squid in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ)will be closed. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest *Loligo* squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) per trip of *Loligo* squid for the remainder of the quota period. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding the Period II quota and allow for rebuilding of this overfished stock, while allowing for fishing throughout the year. DATES: Effective 0001 hours, July 2, 2000, through 0001 hours, September 1, 2000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Ferreira, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9103, fax 978-281-9135, e mail allison.ferreira@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the *Loligo* squid fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual specifications for initial optimum yield as well as the amounts for allowable biological catch, domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic annual processing, joint venture processing, and total allowable levels of foreign fishing for the species managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The procedures for setting the annual initial specifications are described in § 648.21. The 2000 specification of DAH for *Loligo* squid was set at 13,000 mt (65 FR 16341, March 28, 2000). This amount is allocated by trimester based on the following table. Table 2._ *Loligo* 4-Month Period Allocations 4-month Period Percent Metric Tons I (Jan-Apr) 42 5,460 II (May-Aug) 18 2,340 III (Sep-Dec) 40 5,200 Total 100 13,000 Section 648.22 requires the closure of the directed *Loligo* squid fishery in the EEZ when 90 percent of the DAH for *Loligo* squid is harvested in either Period I or II, or 95 percent is harvested in Period III. NMFS is further required to notify, in advance of the closure, the Executive Directors of the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils; mail notification of the closure to all holders of *Loligo* squid permits at least 72 hours before the effective date of the closure; provide adequate notice of the closure to recreational participants in the fishery; and publish notification of the closure in the **Federal Register** . The regulations at 50 CFR 648.22 require NMFS to close the *Loligo* squid directed fishery when 90 percent of the Period II quota is harvested. The 2000 Period II quota for *Loligo* squid is 2,340 mt or 5,159,700 lbs (65 FR 16341, March 28, 2000). NMFS has determined, based on landings and other available information, that 90 percent of the DAH for *Loligo* squid in Period II, will be harvested by July 1, 2000. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, July 2, 2000, the directed fishery for *Loligo* squid is closed and vessels issued Federal permits for *Loligo* squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt). The directed fishery will reopen effective 0001 hours, September 1, 2000, which marks the beginning of the Period III quota. Classification This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et* *seq* . Dated: June 26, 2000. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 00-16463 Filed 6-26-00; 3:18 pm]
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- 50 CFR 648
- 50 CFR 648.22
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