96-16170. Summer Flounder Fishery; 1996 Recreational Fishery Measures  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 32711-32712]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-16170]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    50 CFR Part 625
    
    [Docket No. 960412110-6166-02; I.D. 030596E]
    RIN 0648-AI93
    
    
    Summer Flounder Fishery; 1996 Recreational Fishery Measures
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: NMFS issues the final specifications for the 1996 summer 
    flounder recreational fishery, including no closed season, a possession 
    limit of eight fish per person and a minimum fish size of 14 inches 
    (35.6 cm). The intent of this document is to comply with implementing 
    regulations for the fishery that require NMFS to publish measures for 
    the upcoming fishing year that will prevent overfishing of the 
    resource.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment and supporting 
    documents used by the Monitoring Committee are available from: 
    Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, 
    Federal Building, 300 S. New Street, Dover, DE 19901-6790.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina L. Spallone, Fishery Policy 
    Analyst, (508) 281-9221.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fishery Management Plan for the Summer 
    Flounder Fishery (FMP) was developed jointly by the Mid-Atlantic 
    Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine 
    Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), in consultation with the New England and 
    South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The management unit for the 
    FMP is summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) in U.S. waters of the 
    Atlantic Ocean from the southern border of North Carolina northward to 
    the Canadian border. Implementing regulations for the fishery are found 
    at 50 CFR part 625.
        Section 625.20 outlines the process for determining annual 
    commercial and recreational catch quotas and other restrictions for the 
    summer flounder fishery. Pursuant to Sec. 625.20, the Director, 
    Northeast Region, NMFS, implements measures for the fishing year to 
    ensure achievement of the fishing mortality rate specified in the FMP. 
    This document announces the following measures pertaining to the 
    recreational fishery, which are unchanged from the proposed measures 
    that were published in the Federal Register on April 22, 1996 (61 FR 
    17682): (1) The continued elimination of the closed season, (2) an 
    individual possession limit of 8 fish per person, and (3) a minimum 
    fish size of 14 inches (35.6 cm).
    
    Comments and Responses
    
        No comments were received during the comment period concerning the 
    proposed measures.
    
    Classification
    
        This action is authorized by 50 CFR part 625.
        This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
    purposes of E.O. 12866.
        When this rule was proposed, the Assistant General Counsel for 
    Legislation and Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to 
    the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
    that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities. The reasons were published in the 
    proposed rule and are not repeated here. As such, a Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act analysis has not been prepared.
        The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that there 
    is good cause to waive the delayed effectiveness of this rule under 5 
    U.S.C. 553(d)(3). As was noted in the proposed rule, these measures 
    should become effective immediately as the season has
    
    [[Page 32712]]
    
    already started and the increase in possession limit eases a 
    restriction. Also, the final specifications for the 1996 summer 
    flounder recreational fishery could not be established when the final 
    1996 specifications were implemented because recreational catch data 
    for 1995 were not available for the Summer Flounder Monitoring 
    Committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the management measures in 
    attaining the 1995 harvest limit.
    
    List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 625
    
        Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Dated: June 19, 1996.
    Gary Matlock,
    Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 625 is amended 
    to read as follows:
    
    PART 625--SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY
    
        1. The authority citation for part 625 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
    
        2. In Sec. 625.25, in paragraph (a) the first sentence is revised 
    to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 625.25  Possession limit.
    
        (a) No person shall possess more than eight summer flounder in, or 
    harvested from, the EEZ unless that person is the owner or operator of 
    a fishing vessel issued a moratorium permit under Sec. 625.4. * * *
    * * * * *
    [FR Doc. 96-16170 Filed 6-20-96; 2:13pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
6/20/1996
Published:
06/25/1996
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-16170
Dates:
June 20, 1996.
Pages:
32711-32712 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 960412110-6166-02, I.D. 030596E
RINs:
0648-AI93
PDF File:
96-16170.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 625.25