Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fishery; Minimum Clam Size for 1999

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34834]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 122398E]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surf Clam 
and Ocean Quahog Fishery; Minimum Clam Size for 1999

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

ACTION: Notice of suspension of surf clam minimum size limit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS informs the public that the minimum size limit of 4.75 
inches (12.065 cm) for Atlantic surf clams is suspended for the 1999 
fishing year. The intended effect is to relieve the industry from a 
regulatory burden that is not necessary as the majority of surf clams 
harvested are larger than the minimum size limit.

DATES: January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Gouveia, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations implementing the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries 
(FMP) allow the Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), to suspend annually by publication of an 
announcement in the Federal Register, the minimum size limit for 
Atlantic surf clams (50 CFR 648.72(c)). This action may be taken unless 
discard, catch, and survey data indicate that 30 percent of the 
Atlantic surf clam resource is smaller than 4.75 inches (12.065 cm) and 
the overall reduced size is not attributable to beds where growth of 
the individual clams has been reduced because of density-dependent 
factors.
    At its August meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
(Council) accepted the recommendations of its Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog 
Committee and voted to recommend that the Regional Administrator 
suspend the minimum size limit for surf clams in 1999. Commercial surf 
clam shell length data for 1998 indicate that only 11.3 percent of the 
samples were composed of surf clams that were less than 4.75 inches 
(12.07 cm). Based on these data, the Regional Administrator adopts the 
Council's recommendation and publishes this announcement to suspend the 
minimum size limit for Atlantic surf clams for the period January 1, 
1999, through December 31, 1999.
    This action is authorized by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 29, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34834 Filed 12-30-98; 3:06 pm]
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