[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7717]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 640
[Docket No. 970318058-7058-01; I.D. 022597A]
RIN 0648-XX82
Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic;
Rescission of Control Date
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of rescission of control date.
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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management
Councils (Councils) believe that changes in the management of the spiny
lobster fishery makes a previously announced control date obsolete.
Therefore, on behalf of the Councils, NMFS announces that the date of
January 15, 1986, is no longer considered a control date for entry into
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic spiny lobster fishery.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 26, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 813-570-5305.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The spiny lobster fishery is managed under
the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf
of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the
Councils and is implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 640,
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.
A control date of January 15, 1986, was established for the spiny
lobster fishery in anticipation of a possible Federal limited access
program for this fishery (51 FR 5713, February 18, 1986). The notice
announcing this control date stated that anyone entering the fishery
after January 15, 1986, was not assured of continued participation if a
limited access system was adopted.
No limited access program was developed by the Councils. Instead,
the Councils adopted Florida's management regime for the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) off Florida. The commercial fishery is confined
primarily to Florida waters and the EEZ off Florida. Commercial and
recreational spiny lobster landings outside Florida are negligible.
In 1992, NMFS adopted for the EEZ off Florida, Florida's spiny
lobster trap certificate, trap reduction, and trap identification
programs (57 FR 56516, November 30, 1992).
In 1994, NMFS removed the requirement for Federal vessel permits in
the commercial fishery in the EEZ off Florida (59 FR 53118, October 21,
1994). The South Atlantic Council determined (at its November 1996
meeting) and the Gulf Council determined (at its July 1996 meeting)
that these changes in the management of the spiny lobster fishery make
the control date obsolete. Therefore, NMFS announces the rescission of
the January 15, 1986, control date with respect to this fishery.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 20, 1997.
C. Karnella,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-7717 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
