E8-24509. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; Notice that Vendor Will Provide Year 2009 Cage Tags

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of vendor to provide year 2009 cage tags.

SUMMARY:

NMFS informs surfclam and ocean quahog allocation owners that they will be required to purchase their year 2009 cage tags from the National Band and Tag Company. The intent of this notice is to comply with regulations for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries and to promote efficient distribution of cage tags.

ADDRESSES:

Written inquiries may be sent to Edward Stern, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Edward Stern, Fishery Management Specialist, [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Federal Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery regulations at 50 CFR 648.75(b) authorize the Regional Administrator of the Northeast Region, NMFS, to specify in the Federal Register a vendor from whom cage tags, required under the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP), shall be purchased. Notice is hereby given that National Band and Tag Company of Newport, Kentucky, is the authorized vendor of cage tags required for the year 2009 Federal surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Detailed instructions for purchasing these cage tags will be provided in a letter to allocation owners in these fisheries from NMFS within the next several weeks.

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

October 7, 2008.

Emily H. Menashes,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.