[Federal Register: November 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 221)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66692-66693]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16no06-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 051017270-5339-02; I.D. 083106D]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam
and Ocean Quahog Fishery; Quota Harvested for Maine Mahogany Quahog
Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the annual quota for the Maine mahogany
quahog fishery has been harvested. Commercial vessels operating under a
limited access Maine mahogany quahog permit may not harvest Maine
mahogany quahogs from the Maine mahogany quahog zone for the remainder
of the fishing year (through December 31, 2006). Regulations governing
the Maine mahogany quahog fishery require publication of this
notification to advise the public of this closure. This closure does
not apply to vessels with a Maine mahogany quahog permit that are
fishing under an ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ).
DATES: Effective 0001 hrs local time, November 14, 2006, through 2400
hrs local time, December 31, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis, 978-281-9273; fax 978-
281-9135; email Tobey.Curtis@Noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations governing the Maine mahogany
quahog fishery appear at 50 CFR part 648, subpart E. The annual quota
for the harvest of mahogany quahogs within the Maine mahogany quahog
zone for the 2006 fishing year was established at 100,000 Maine bu
(35,150 hL), as stated in the final rule published on December 28, 2005
(70 FR 76715). The Maine mahogany quahog zone is defined as the area
bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada maritime boundary, on the south
by a straight line at 43[deg] 50' N. lat., and on the north and west by
the shoreline of Maine.
The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator)
monitors the commercial Maine mahogany quahog quota for each fishing
year using dealer and other available information to determine when the
quota is projected to have been harvested. If the quota is projected to
be reached, NMFS is required to publish notification in the Federal
Register informing commercial vessel permit holders that, effective
upon a specific date, the Maine mahogany quahog quota has been
harvested and no commercial quota is available for harvesting mahogany
quahogs by vessels possessing a limited access Maine mahogany quahog
permit for the remainder of the year, from within the Maine mahogany
quahog zone. This does not apply, however, to vessels with a Maine
mahogany quahog permit that are fishing under an ocean quahog ITQ, and
utilizing ITQ cage tags.
The Regional Administrator has determined, based upon dealer
reports and other available information, that the 2006 Maine mahogany
quahog quota has been harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hrs local
time, November 16, 2006, further landings of Maine mahogany quahogs
harvested from within the Maine mahogany quahog zone by vessels
possessing a limited access Maine mahogany quahog Federal fisheries
permit are prohibited through December 31, 2006. The 2007 fishing
[[Page 66693]]
year for Maine mahogany quahog harvest will open on January 1, 2007.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 8, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9228 Filed 11-13-06; 2:42 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S