[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17770-17771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8623]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Chapter VI
[Docket No. 950316075-5075-01; I.D. 022895C]
RIN 0648-AH86
Golden Crab Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States; Control
Date
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; consideration of a
control date.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council) is considering whether there is a need to
impose management measures in the golden crab fishery in the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) off the southern Atlantic states, and if there is a
need, what management measures should be imposed. If it is determined
that there is a need to impose management measures, the Council may
initiate a rulemaking to do so. Possible measures include the
establishment of a limited entry program to control participation or
effort in the fishery. If a limited entry program is established, the
Council is considering April 7, 1995, as a possible control date.
Consideration of a control date is intended to discourage new entry
into the fishery based on economic speculation during the Council's
deliberation on the issues.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 8, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, Southpark Building, Suite 306, 1 Southpark Circle,
Charleston, SC 29407-4699.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter J. Eldridge, 813-570-5305.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The golden crab fishery is not currently
managed under a fishery management plan (FMP) prepared under the
authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
However, there is a small scale trap fishery for golden crabs (Chaceon
fenneri) in the EEZ off the southern Atlantic states. The fishery is
prosecuted primarily in depths of 110 to 220 fathoms (approximately 200
to 400 m) on sand, mud, and clay bottoms. The fishery has operated
sporadically off North and South Carolina and off the east coast of
Florida. The fishery is currently operating 8 to 10 miles (15 to 19 km)
off Miami, FL. Information on the fishery is limited--the number of
fishermen, number of traps, and current production are unknown.
In February 1995, the Council held a scoping meeting to solicit
input from the industry and public on the need for management of the
golden crab fishery. Based on the results of the meeting, the Council
began development of management options for the fishery. The range of
options the Council will consider include data collection, area
restrictions, seasons, size limits, trap escape panel requirements,
prohibition on harvest of females, and limited entry or access.
Implementation of any management measures for the fishery would require
preparation by the Council of a new FMP or amendment to an existing FMP
to include golden crab. The Council will discuss these issues at its
April 10-14, 1995, meeting in Savannah, GA. In either event,
publication of a proposed rule with a public comment period, NMFS'
approval of the FMP or amendment, and publication of a final rule would
be required.
As the Council considers management options, including limited
entry or access-controlled management regimes, some fishermen who do
not currently harvest golden crab, and have never done so, may decide
to enter the fishery for the sole purpose of establishing a record of
making commercial landings of golden crab. When management authorities
begin to consider use of a limited access management regime, this kind
of speculative entry often is responsible for a rapid increase in
fishing effort in fisheries that are already fully developed or
overdeveloped. The original fishery problems, such as
overcapitalization or overfishing, may be exacerbated by the entry of
new participants. If management measures to limit participation or
effort in the fishery are determined to be necessary, the Council is
considering April 7, 1995 as the control date. After that date, anyone
entering the fishery may not be assured of future participation in the
fishery if a management regime is developed and implemented that limits
the number of participants in the fishery.
Consideration of a control date does not commit the Council or NMFS
to any particular management regime or criteria for entry into the
golden crab fishery. Fishermen are not guaranteed future participation
in the golden crab fishery regardless of their date of entry or
intensity of participation in the fishery before or after the control
date [[Page 17771]] under consideration. The Council may subsequently
choose a different control date, or it may choose a management regime
that does not make use of such a date. The Council may choose to give
variably weighted consideration to fishermen in the fishery before and
after the control date. Other qualifying criteria, such as
documentation of commercial landings and sales, may be applied for
entry. The Council may choose also to take no further action to control
entry or access to the fishery, in which case the control date may be
rescinded.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 3, 1995.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-8623 Filed 4-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F