Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; 1999 Specifications

Résumé

NMFS proposes initial specifications for the 1999 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB). Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year and to provide an opportunity for the public to comment. This action is intended to fulfill this requirement and promote the development and conservation of the U.S. MSB fisheries. This action also proposes making an inseason adjustment of as much as 15,000 mt to the 1999 mackerel joint venture processing (JVP) annual specifications. Further, it proposes to grant the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), the authority to prohibit incidental catches of Loligo, Illex, or butterfish when the Regional Administrator determines that closure of the incidental fishery is necessary to assure that the Loligo, Illex, or butterfish annual specifications will not be exceeded.