[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 64480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25605]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC866


Fisheries of the Northeast Region

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

ACTION: Notification of a determination of overfishing or an overfished 
condition.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that Georges Bank 
(GB) cod and Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod are subject to overfishing and 
continue to be in an overfished condition.
    NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, notifies the appropriate fishery 
management council (Council) whenever it determines that overfishing is 
occurring, a stock is in an overfished condition, a stock is 
approaching an overfished condition, or when a rebuilding plan has not 
resulted in adequate progress toward ending overfishing and rebuilding 
affected fish stocks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Nelson, (301) 427-8565.

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, on behalf of the Secretary, 
must notify Councils whenever it determines that a stock or stock 
complex is: overfished; approaching an overfished condition; or an 
existing rebuilding plan has not ended overfishing or resulted in 
adequate rebuilding progress. NMFS also notifies Councils when it 
determines a stock or stock complex is subject to overfishing. Section 
304(e)(2) further requires NMFS to publish these notices in the Federal 
Register.
    The 2013 Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) 55, showed that 
overfishing was occurring on both Georges Bank cod and Gulf of Maine 
cod, and that both stocks remain in an overfished condition. The New 
England Fishery Management Council has been notified of the results of 
SAW 55 and has taken action to end overfishing and rebuild these two 
stocks through Framework 48.

    Dated: October 18, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25605 Filed 10-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P