[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17820-17821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9563]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 032598C]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Overfished Fishery for Spiny
Dogfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of an overfished fishery.
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SUMMARY: In September 1997, NMFS identified overfished stocks or stocks
that are approaching an overfished condition, as required by the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). As a result of a stock assessment completed since the
identification of these fisheries, an additional stock, spiny dogfish
(Squalus acanthias), has been identified as overfished. The intent of
this action is to notify interested persons that the spiny dogfish
stock is being added to the list of overfished stocks.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Tokarcik, NMFS, 978-281- 9326.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 304(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) requires that the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) report annually to Congress and the Regional Fishery
Management 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. The
Councils were notified by letter on September 30, 1997, of the stocks
that were overfished or approaching an overfished condition based on
information available at that time. Since that time, an additional
stock has been determined to be overfished. The 26th Northeast Regional
Stock Assessment Workshop assessed the current status of the spiny
dogfish resource. This assessment concluded that reproductive biomass
and recruitment have declined due to high fishing mortality on mature
females. Minimum biomass estimates of mature females have decreased by
nearly 50 percent since 1990. Harvest rates of spiny dogfish have
exceeded the replacement level of the stock and recruitment has
declined. The stock is overexploited. Spiny dogfish are distributed in
the Northwest Atlantic between Labrador and Florida and are most
abundant between Nova Scotia and Cape Hatteras. Seasonal migrations
occur northward in spring/summer and southward in autumn/winter.
Section 304(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that, within 1
year of being notified of the identification of a stock as being
overfished, the Councils develop measures to end overfishing and to
rebuild the stock. On April 3, 1998, the Mid- Atlantic and New England
Fishery Management Councils, which share joint management
responsibilities for spiny dogfish, were notified of the overfished
status of this stock. The letter to these Councils reads as follows:
Dear Council Chair:
In September of 1997, you received a copy of the 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.
Since your receipt of that report, an additional stock has been
identified as being overfished. In January 1998, the 26th Northeast
Regional Stock Assessment Workshop determined that spiny dogfish are
over- exploited. This assessment concluded that mean lengths of
spiny dogfish are declining rapidly, minimum biomass estimates of
mature females have decreased by nearly 50 percent since 1990, and
fishing mortality rates are well above sustainable levels. Based on
this information, spiny dogfish are being added to the list of
overfished stocks.
This letter serves as your official notification of the
identification of spiny dogfish as an overfished species. Section
304(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act states that a Council will have
one year from the identification of a stock as being overfished to
develop measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock. This
letter initiates the 1-year period for spiny dogfish.
I am pleased that you have begun work on management measures for
this fishery, as it means the time requirement will be more
[[Page 17821]]
easily satisfied. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rolland A. Schmitten
Assistant Administrator
for Fisheries
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 6, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-9563 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
