[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 56147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28227]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 101598C]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Overfished Fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of overfished fisheries.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has identified overfished stocks or stocks that are
approaching a condition of being overfished, as required by the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA). The
purpose of this notice is to notify the public that the Regional
Fishery Management Councils (Councils) have been informed of those
fisheries that are overfished, and directed to initiate action to end
overfishing and rebuild stocks in overfished fisheries and to 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 were notified on October 9, 1998 of
the species that were overfished or approaching an overfished condition
by letter as follows:
Dear Council Chairman,
Enclosed is the 1998 Annual Report on the Status of Fisheries of
the United States, prepared pursuant to section 304 of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act on October 11,
1996. This report identifies 79 overfished stocks and 10 stocks that
are approaching an overfished condition that are covered by fishery
management plans (FMPs). This year's report identifies 8 additional
species as ``overfished.'' For each of the additional species
identified as ``overfished,'' each Council is required to develop
measures by October 9,1999 to end overfishing and rebuild stocks
that are overfished, and to prevent overfishing from occurring for
stocks that are approaching an overfished condition, for those
species covered by FMPs under its management authority. There are
also 11 stocks identified in this report as overfished that are not
covered by an FMP. Each Council is also required to develop measures
to end overfishing and rebuild those stocks within its geographical
area of authority, in the same timeframe. Rebuilding programs must
be as short as possible, but not exceed 10 years, except in cases
where the biology of the stock of fish, other environmental
conditions, or management measures under an international agreement
in which the United States participates dictate otherwise.
The final national standard guidelines were published on May 1,
1998, and became effective on June 1, 1998. The revisions to the
national standard 1 guidelines require that the overfishing
definitions contained in each FMP be examined on the basis of their
ability to ensure stock levels that can produce maximum sustainable
yield (MSY) on a continuing basis.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rolland A. Schmitten
Assistant Administrator
for Fisheries
Enclosure
A copy of the report is also available through the internet at
http://kingfish.ssp.NMFS.gov/SFA>>.
Dated: October 15, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-28227 Filed 10-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
