[Federal Register: November 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 217)] [Notices] [Page 61278] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr10no99-41] [[Page 61278]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 110199A] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Overfished Fisheries AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of overfished fisheries. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In its annual report to Congress on the status of marine fish stocks, NMFS has identified 98 overfished stocks and 5 stocks that are approaching a condition of being overfished, while 127 species are not overfished and the condition of another 674 species is not known. The report is prepared to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA). The purpose of this document is to notify the public that the Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils) or the Secretary of Commerce with respect to Atlantic highly migratory species have been informed of those fisheries that are overfished, and that they are required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to initiate action to end overfishing, rebuild stocks in overfished fisheries, and prevent overfishing in fisheries that are approaching an overfished condition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George H. Darcy, NMFS, 301-713-2341. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background This action is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) as amended by the SFA, which was signed into law on October 11, 1996. Section 304(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) report annually to the Congress and the Councils on the status of fisheries within each Council's geographical area of authority and identify those fisheries that are overfished or are approaching a condition of being overfished. For those fisheries managed under a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) or international agreement, the status is to be determined using the criteria for overfishing specified in such FMP or agreement. A fishery is classified as approaching a condition of being overfished if, based on trends in fishing effort, fishery resource size, and other appropriate factors, the Secretary estimates that the fishery will become overfished within 2 years. Pursuant to section 304 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Councils, and the Secretary for Atlantic highly migratory species, were notified on October 29, 1999, of the species that were overfished or approaching an overfished condition. The 1999 report finds that a total of 98 species are ``overfished,'' 127 species are classified as ``not overfished,'' 5 species are ``approaching an overfished condition,'' and for 674 species the status is ``unknown.'' Conservation efforts and/or updated data on some fisheries allowed managers to remove 10 species from the overfished list while adding 18 new species. Six species that had been ``approaching an overfished condition'' were removed from that list, but 1 new species was added to this year's report. In addition, a lack of information to satisfy the more complex overfishing definition required under the SFA caused 79 species to be moved from the ``not overfished'' category to the ``unknown'' designation. The new statutory definition requires that status determination criteria must specify both a maximum fishing mortality or reasonable proxy, and a minimum stock size threshold or reasonable proxy. A copy of the report is also available through the internet at <>. Dated: November 5, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-29480 Filed 11-9-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F