[Federal Register: November 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 217)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 61220]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10no99-12]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 990318076-9109-02; I.D. 110499A]

 
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Commercial Haddock Harvest

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

ACTION: Increase of haddock landing limit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that less than 75 percent of the haddock target 
total allowable catch (TAC) will be harvested (4,218.5 mt) for the 1999 
fishing year under the present landing limit. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) is 
increasing the landing limit. As of 0001 hours November 5, 1999, 
vessels fishing under a multispecies day-at-sea (DAS) may land up to 
5,000 lb (2,268 kg) per DAS, 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) per trip maximum, 
for any DAS utilized on or after November 5, 1999. This action provides 
the industry with the opportunity to harvest at least 75 percent of the 
target TAC for the 1999 fishing year.

DATES: Effective from 0001 hours, November 5, 1999, through 2400 hours, 
April 30, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul H. Jones, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
978-281-9273.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing the haddock trip 
limit in Framework Adjustment 27 (64 FR 24066, May 5, 1999) became 
effective May 1, 1999. To ensure that haddock landings remain within 
the target TAC of 5,600 mt established for the 1999 fishing year, 
Framework 27 established an initial landing limit of 2,000 lb (907.2 
kg) per day and 20,000 lb (9,071.8 kg) per trip maximum. Framework 27 
also provided a mechanism to increase or decrease the haddock trip 
limit based upon the percentage of TAC which is projected to be 
harvested. Section 648.86(a)(1)(iii) specifies that if the Regional 
Administrator has projected that less than 75 percent of the haddock 
target TAC (4,218.5 mt) will be harvested for the 1999 fishing year the 
landing limit may be increased. Further, this section stipulates that 
NMFS will publish a notification in the Federal Register informing the 
public of the date of any increase or decrease.
    Based on the available information, the Regional Administrator has 
projected that less than 4,218.5 mt of haddock will be harvested by 
April 30, 2000, under the existing landing limit. The Regional 
Administrator has determined that increasing the haddock landing limit 
to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) per DAS, 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) per trip maximum, 
is justified because it provides the industry with the opportunity to 
harvest at least 75 percent of the target TAC for the 1999 fishing 
year. Therefore, the Regional Administrator, under 
Sec. 648.86(a)(1)(iii), has increased the haddock landing limit to 
5,000 lb (2,268 kg) per DAS, 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) per trip maximum, 
for DAS used on or after 0001 hours, November 5, 1999, through 2400 
hours, April 30, 2000.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR Part 648 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12286.

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

    Dated: November 4, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-29389 Filed 11-4-99; 4:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F