Fishery conservation and management: Northeastern United States fisheries— Northeast multispecies and monkfish,

[Federal Register: January 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 14)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 3480-3481]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22ja99-32]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 011399A]

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies and Monkfish Fisheries; Amendment 1 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to Designate Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP; request for comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils have submitted for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP prepared jointly by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The amendment includes the EFH provisions which implement the requirements of section 303(a)(7) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The amendment describes and identifies EFH for the monkfish fishery, discusses measures to address the effects of fishing on EFH, and identifies other actions for the conservation and enhancement of EFH. The amendment includes no new fishery management measures, so no regulations are proposed. Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP is included in the NEFMC's omnibus EFH amendment, which also includes Amendment 11 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP, Amendment 9 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, Amendment

[[Page 3481]]

1 to the Atlantic Salmon FMP, and the EFH components of the pending Atlantic Herring FMP.

DATES: Public comments must be received on or before March 23, 1999. ADDRESSES: Comments on this amendment should be sent to Jon C. Rittgers, Acting Regional Administrator, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. Please mark the outside of the envelope: ``Comments on Monkfish Amendment 1.''

Copies of the omnibus amendment, which includes Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP and the environmental assessment, are available from Paul Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan M. Kurland, Assistant Habitat Program Coordinator, 978-281-9204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that each Regional Fishery Management Council submit any FMP or FMP amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or FMP amendment, immediately publish a notification in the Federal Register that the FMP or amendment is available for public review and comment. Therefore, NMFS solicits comments on the approval, disapproval, or partial approval of Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP.

Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP is included as a part of an omnibus EFH amendment prepared by the NEFMC, which addresses the Magnuson- Stevens Act EFH provisions. The omnibus amendment discusses fishing- and nonfishing-related impacts to NEFMC designated EFH, including monkfish EFH; measures to minimize adverse impacts to EFH; and conservation and enhancement measures for EFH. The monkfish EFH portion of the amendment also addresses research and information needs.

This omnibus amendment also includes Amendment 11 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP, Amendment 9 to the Sea Scallop FMP, Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Salmon FMP, and EFH designations and information for Atlantic herring. A Notice of Availability for Amendment 11 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP, Amendment 9 to the Sea Scallop FMP, and Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Salmon FMP was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 1998 (63 FR 66110) and the comment period ends on February 1, 1999. EFH designations and information for Atlantic herring will be considered for Secretarial approval, disapproval, or partial approval in a future notice of availability, in conjunction with the NEFMC's pending FMP for Atlantic herring.

NMFS solicits comments on the approval, disapproval, or partial approval of Amendment 1 to the Monkfish FMP. To be considered, comments must be received by close of business on March 23, 1999; that does not mean postmarked or otherwise transmitted by that date.

In addition to Amendment 1, the Monkfish FMP is currently under Secretarial review. A Notice of Availability inviting public comment on the FMP was published in the Federal Register on December 2, 1998 (63 FR 66524). Comments on the Monkfish FMP must be received by February 1, 1999.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: January 15, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-1419Filed1-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F