[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60823-60824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29877]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 970828208-7262-02; I.D. 072997C]
Scup and Black Sea Bass; Interstate Fishery Management Plans;
Cancellation of Moratorium
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of determination of compliance; cancellation of
moratorium.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative
Management Act of 1993 (Act), the Federal moratorium on fishing for
scup and black sea bass in the coastal waters of the State of Maryland
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that would have been effective on
November 15, 1997, is cancelled. The Secretary was notified by the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) that because
Maryland and Massachusetts are now in compliance with the provisions of
the Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for scup
and black sea bass, that it was withdrawing its findings and
determinations of noncompliance. The Secretary concurs. Accordingly,
the moratorium is cancelled.
DATES: Effective November 14, 1997.
[[Page 60824]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard H. Schaefer, Chief, Staff
Office for Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries, NMFS, 301-427-
2014.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On September 12, 1997, NMFS published a document in the Federal
Register (FR) (62 FR 48060) announcing the Secretary's determination
that the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts were
not in compliance with the Commission's FMPs for scup and black sea
bass. In the document a moratorium was declared on fishing for these
two species in Maryland and Massachusetts state waters, effective
November 15, 1997, if Maryland and Massachusetts were not in compliance
by November 1, 1997. Details were provided in the September 12, 1997,
FR document and are not repeated here.
The Act specifies that, if, after a moratorium is declared with
respect to a State, the Secretary is notified by the Commission that it
is withdrawing the determination of noncompliance, the Secretary shall
immediately determine whether the State is in compliance with the
applicable plan(s). If the State is determined to be in compliance, the
moratorium shall be terminated.
Activities Pursuant to the Act
On October 31, 1997, the Secretary received letters from the
Commission prepared pursuant to the Act. The Commission's letters
stated that the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
had now in effect regulations on scup and black sea bass implementing
the provisions of the Commission's FMPs, and, therefore, the Commission
was withdrawing its determinations of noncompliance. In addition, upon
further evaluation of the noncompliance status of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, the Secretary has determined that Massachusetts had in
place the proper permit and reporting requirements for scup, and,
therefore, was not out of compliance on these measures.
Cancellation of the moratorium
Based on the Commission's October 31, 1997, letter, and information
received from the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
and the Department of Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Secretary has determined that Maryland and Massachusetts are now in
compliance with the Commission's FMPs for scup and black sea bass.
Therefore, the moratorium on fishing for these species in Maryland and
Massachusetts state waters is canceled.
Dated: November 6, 1997.
David L. Evans,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29877 Filed 11-7-97; 4:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
