72 FR 248 pg. 73766 - Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of Summer Flounder
Type: NOTICEVolume: 72Number: 248Page: 73766
FR document: [FR Doc. E7-25271 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE33
Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of Summer Flounder
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that summer flounder is overfished. NMFS notified the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) of its determination by letter. The Council is required to take action within 1 year following notification by NMFS that a stock is overfished or existing remedial action taken to end overfishing or rebuild an overfished stock has not resulted in adequate progress.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Debra Lambert, telephone: (301) 713-2341.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Pursuant to sections 304(e)(2) and (e)(7) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2) and (e)(7), and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(e)(2), NMFS sends written notification to fishery management councils when overfishing is occurring, a stock is approaching overfishing, a stock is overfished, a stock is approaching an overfished condition, or existing action taken to end previously identified overfishing or rebuilding a previously identified overfished stock or stock complex has not resulted in adequate progress. On December 3, 2007, the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator sent a letter notifying the Council that summer flounder is overfished. Summer flounder is currently under a rebuilding plan. The Council must therefore ensure that overfishing is ended and that the stock rebuilds on schedule. A copy of the notification letter sent to the Council for the aforementioned determination is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm .
Dated: December 20, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25271 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
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