Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule; delay of effectiveness.

SUMMARY:

NMFS delays the effective date of a final rule published January 11, 2000, from March 15, 2000, until March 27, 2000. The final rule was to have been effective February 10, 2000; however, its effectiveness was previously delayed until March 15, 2000. The final rule will implement approved management measures for the spiny dogfish fishery, as contained in the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action is being taken in order to provide the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils) with the opportunity to come to an agreement on how to proceed with implementation of the FMP. If the Councils have not reached an agreement by March 27, 2000, NMFS will assess the situation to determine the appropriate course of action to take at that time.

DATES:

The effective date of the final rule implementing the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (published on January 11, 2000, at 65 FR 1557) and whose effectiveness was delayed until March 15, 2000 (65 FR 7460, February 15, 2000) is further delayed until March 27, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Pearson, Fishery Policy Analyst, at 978-281-0279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FMP was developed jointly by the Councils, with the Mid-Atlantic Council having the administrative lead. A Notice of Availability for the FMP was published in the Federal Register on June 29, 1999 (64 FR 34759), and solicited public comment through August 30, 1999. The proposed rule to implement the FMP was published in the Federal Register on August 3, 1999 (64 FR 42071), and solicited public comments through September 17, 1999. NMFS made the decision to partially approve the FMP on September 29, 1999. A final rule to implement the FMP was published in the Federal Register January 11, 2000 (65 FR 1557), to be effective on February 10, 2000. A delay in effectiveness of the final rule was filed on February 10, 2000, and published on February 15, 2000 (65 FR 7460), which made the effective date of this rule March 15, 2000. The final rule will now be effective March 27, 2000.