The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA
Fisheries) has published a proposed rule in the
Federal Register that, if approved, would implement
the regulatory actions proposed in the Fishery
Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery
of the Atlantic (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (SAFMC), in cooperation with
the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery
Management Councils, has submitted the FMP for
review, approval, and implementation. NOAA
Fisheries announced the availability of the FMP for
public comment on September 26, 2003.Dealer, Vessel, and Operator Permits: Dealers and
owners of commercial and for-hire vessels would be
required to obtain federal permits from NOAA
Fisheries to participate in the fishery, and to report
their landing transactions. The qualifying criteria to
obtain a vessel permit would establish a limited access
system. Operators of a commercial or for-hire vessel
would be required to obtain a federal operator permit
from NOAA Fisheries to participate in the fishery.
These actions are intended to develop more accurate
counts of the number of participants and vessels in the
fishery, their catch, and their landings.
Harvesting Restrictions: To maintain a healthy stock
the proposed rule would establish numerous
harvesting restrictions, including: (1) no sale
provisions for the recreational fishery; (2) recreational
bag limits; (3) commercial trip limits; (4) minimum
size limits for dolphin; and (5) allowable gears and
restrictions on the use specific gears. Please refer to
the FMP for specific information regarding these
harvesting restrictions.
Framework Procedures: The proposed rule would
establish a framework procedure by which the
SAFMC could adjust certain management measures,
such as stock status determination criteria, harvesting
restrictions, and permit requirements, through an
abbreviated rulemaking process.
Addresses
The FMP, which includes an Environmental Impact
Statement, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA), a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), a Social
Impact Assessment, and a Fishery Impact Statement,
is available from:
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
One Southpark Circle, Suite 306
Charleston, SC 29407-4699
Phone: 843-571-4366; fax: 843-769-4520
e-mail: sa***@sa***.net
NOAA Fisheries prepared a “Supplemental Economic
Analysis, Regulatory Impact Review and Regulatory
Flexibility Act Analysis†that augments the findings
of the FMP’s IRFA/RIR. This supplemental analysis
is available from the Fisheries Economics Office,
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, 9721
Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
Written copies of the proposed rule may be obtained
from the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL
33702.
Electronic copies of the proposed rule may be
obtained from the Federal Register website at
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
Comments regarding the proposed rule should be sent
to Dr. Steve Branstetter at NOAA Fisheries Southeast
Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St.
Petersburg, FL 33702. Comments may be submitted
via fax to 727-570-5583. Comments will not be
accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet.
All comments on the proposed rule must be received
before 4:30 PM eastern time, on December 18, 2003.
Comments on non-regulatory actions in the FMP are
being accepted through November 25, 2003. All
comments received by NOAA Fisheries on the FMP
or the proposed rule will be addressed in any final rule
that is published to implement the actions proposed in
the FMP.
This and other news releases are available on the
Southeast Regional Office homepage at
http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/. NOAA Fisheries is an
agency of the Department of Commerce.
