Fishery conservation and management: Northeastern United States fisheries Northeast skate,
[Federal Register: May 1, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 84)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 23275-23276]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01my03-25]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[ID 042403A]
RIN 0648-A010
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate Fisheries; Northeast Skate Fishery Management Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan; request for comments.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted the Northeast Skate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review and is requesting comments from the public. The FMP would establish a management program and fishing effort controls for
[[Page 23276]]
the skate fisheries in the Northeast (NE). The goal of the management program is to rebuild overfished skate resources (thorny and barndoor skates) and prevent overfishing of all seven skate resources.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 30, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Northeast Skate FMP.'' Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.
Copies of the FMP, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) are available from Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Pentony, Senior Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9283, fax 978-281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FMP is to initiate management of the fisheries for the species in the NE skate complex (barndoor, clearnose, little, rosette, smooth, thorny, and winter skates) in Federal waters of the northeastern United States, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The FMP was developed by the Council in response to concerns that the continued development of and increased landings in the skate fisheries required implementation of management measures to prevent overfishing and to allow for the collection of catch information on the status of the stocks. Because two species of skates (barndoor and thorny skates) are considered overfished, this FMP is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to end overfishing and rebuild these species.
Skates are harvested in two very different fisheries, one for lobster bait and one for wings for human consumption. The fishery for lobster bait is a more traditional and directed skate fishery, involving vessels, primarily from ports in southern New England, that target a combination of little skates (estimated to be 90 percent of landings) and, to a much lesser extent, juvenile winter skates (
