[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25415-25416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12253]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 980318066-8066-01; I.D. 022698A]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 25; Correction
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This rule removes regulatory language inadvertently added,
clarifies the raised footrope requirement for Small Mesh Area 1 & 2,
and corrects an
[[Page 25416]]
amendatory instruction to the regulatory text of the final rule
implementing Framework Adjustment 25 to the Fishery Management Plan for
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery (FMP) published Tuesday, March 31,
1998, and corrected on Wednesday, April 22, 1998.
DATES: Effective May 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Tokarcik, 978-281-9326.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This document makes three corrections to the regulations
implementing Framework Adjustment 25 to the FMP which was published on
March 31, 1998 (63 FR 15326) and corrected on April 22, 1998 (63 FR
19850).
Section 648.80(a)(8) states that vessels fishing with mesh smaller
than the minimum mesh size are subject to the raised footrope
requirement specified in Sec. 648.80(a)(8)(iv). As with the finfish
excluder device required in the shrimp fishery, the intent of the
raised footrope gear modification is to reduce bycatch of regulated
multispecies when vessels are fishing with nets of mesh less than the
minimum mesh size. Because vessels fishing under the provisions of the
Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Fishery Exemption Area, which is inclusive
of Small Mesh Area 1 & 2, must properly secure a finfish excluder
device in their trawl nets, this rule clarifies and corrects the intent
of the Small Mesh Area 1 & 2 provision by allowing small mesh vessels
to employ either a raised footrope or excluder device in their trawl
gear when fishing in these two small mesh areas, depending on the
species of fish targeted.
In Sec. 648.81, paragraph (g)(1)(i) describes the Gulf of Maine
Inshore Closure Area I. However, this paragraph also inadvertently
refers to Inshore Closure Area III, which is described in
Sec. 648.81(g)(1)(iii). This correction document removes the reference
to Inshore Closure Area III from Sec. 648.81(g)(l)(i).
This document corrects an amendatory instruction contained in the
final rule document. Amendatory instruction 6 stated that in
Sec. 648.86, paragraph (b)(1)(ii) is revised. However, NMFS only
intended to revise the introductory text to Sec. 648.86(b)(1)(ii).
Therefore, this documents revises the amendatory instruction to state
that only the introductory text to Sec. 648.86(b)(1)(ii) is revised.
Correction
Accordingly, in the publication on March 31, 1998, of the final
regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 25 to the Northeast
Multispecies FMP (I.D. 022698A) and corrected on April 22, 1998 (63 FR
19850), which was the subject of FR Doc. 98-8288, is corrected as
follows:
1. On page 15330, in the second column, under Sec. 648.80(a)(8)(i),
ninth line down, insert the phrase ``or (a)(3)(ii)'' after the words
``paragraph (a)(8)(iv).''
2. On page 15331, in the second column, under Sec. 648.81(g)(1)(i),
fifth line, remove ``apply to Inshore Closure Area III''.
3. On page 15332, in the second column, amendatory instruction 6 to
Sec. 648.86, third line, correct ``(b)(1)(ii)'' to read ``(b)(1)(ii)
introductory text''.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 4, 1998.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-12253 Filed 5-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
