Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

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The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces the rescission of temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations applied to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 841 nm\2\ (2,885 km\2\), southeast of Machias, Maine, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide notice that an October 17, 2007 survey indicated that North Atlantic right whales (right whales) are no longer present in the Dynamic Area Management (DAM) zone; therefore, NMFS has rescinded the temporary restrictions on lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishing gear and reopened the DAM zone to normal fishing operations.