Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan

Résumé

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the FMP, this proposed rule would establish an annual coastwide quota for black sea bass and eliminate a provision requiring certain vessels to cancel their Northeast Region Black Sea Bass Permits during a fishery closure if they intend to continue fishing for black sea bass south of Cape Hatteras. Finally, this proposed rule would require that vessels issued a Federal moratorium permit for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass be subject to the presumption that any fish of these species on board were harvested from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).