Federal Register - February 17, 2021
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Source: Federal Register
9903
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 17, 2021 / Proposed Rules TABLE 2PROPOSED OCEAN QUAHOG MEASURES 20212026Continued 20222026 Projected Allowable biological catch ABC
mt
Year
Annual catch target ACT
mt
2022
44,072
44,072
25,924
2023
44,082
44,082
25,924
2024
44,065
44,065
25,924
2025
44,020
44,020
25,924
2026
43,948
43,948
25,924
The Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog quotas are specified in industry bushels of 1.88 cube feet ft3
53.24 L per bushel, while the Maine ocean quahog quota is specified in Maine bushels of 1.24 ft3 35.24 L per bushel. Because Maine ocean quahogs are the same species as ocean quahogs, both fisheries are assessed under the same overfishing definition. When the two quota amounts ocean quahog and Maine ocean quahog are added, the total allowable harvest is below the level that would result in overfishing for the entire stock. The 20212026 quotas are the same as those implemented in the 20182020 specifications.
Surfclam The proposed 20212026 status quo surfclam quotas were developed after reviewing the results of the management track stock assessment for Atlantic surfclam, conducted in June 2020. The surfclam quota recommendation is consistent with the assessment finding that the Atlantic surfclam stock is not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring. Based on this information, the Council is recommending, and we are proposing, to maintain the status quo surfclam quota of 3.40 million bu 181 million L for 20212026.
Ocean Quahog jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Annual catch limit ACL
mt
As with surfclams, the proposed 20212026 status quo ocean quahog quotas were developed after reviewing the results of the management track stock assessment for ocean quahogs, conducted in June 2020. The ocean quahog quota is consistent with the assessment finding that the ocean quahog stock is not overfished, and
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overfishing is not occurring. Consistent with the Council recommendation, we are proposing the following for ocean quahog. The proposed 20212026 nonMaine quota for ocean quahog is the status quo quota of 5.36 million bu 285
million L. The 20212026 proposed quota for Maine ocean quahogs is the status quo level of 100,000 Maine bu 3.52 million L, which represents the maximum allowable quota under the FMP.
Surfclam Minimum Size In August 2020, the Council voted to recommend that the minimum size limit for surfclams continue to be suspended for 2021. The minimum size limit has been suspended annually since 2005.
Minimum size suspension may not be taken unless discard, catch, and biological sampling data indicate that 30
percent or more of the Atlantic surfclam resource have a shell length less than 4.75 inches 120 millimeters mm, and the overall reduced size is not attributable to harvest from beds where growth of the individual clams has been reduced because of density-dependent factors.
Commercial surfclam data for 2020
were analyzed to determine the percentage of surfclams that were smaller than the minimum size requirement. The analysis indicated that 11 percent of the overall commercial landings, to date, were composed of surfclams that were less than the 4.75inch 120-mm default minimum size.
Based on the information available, the Regional Administrator concurs with the Councils recommendation, and is proposing to suspend the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams in the
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Commercial quota
Maine quota: 100,000 Maine million L; Non-Maine quota:
lion bu 285 million L.
Maine quota: 100,000 Maine million L; Non-Maine quota:
lion bu 285 million L.
Maine quota: 100,000 Maine million L; Non-Maine quota:
lion bu 285 million L.
Maine quota: 100,000 Maine million L; Non-Maine quota:
lion bu 285 million L.
Maine quota: 100,000 Maine million L; Non-Maine quota:
lion bu 285 million L.
bu 3.52
5.36 milbu 3.52
5.36 milbu 3.52
5.36 milbu 3.52
5.36 milbu 3.52
5.36 mil-
upcoming fishing year January 1
through December 31, 2021.
Classification Pursuant to section 304b1A of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined that this proposed rule is consistent with the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public comment.
This action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration SBA
that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for this certification is as follows.
A complete description of the specifications, why they are being considered, and the legal basis for proposing and implementing specifications for the surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries are contained in the preamble to this proposed rule.
The measures proposed by this action apply to surfclam and ocean quahog allocation owners. These are the individuals or entities that received initial individual transferable quota ITQ allocations i.e., owners of record at the beginning of each fishing year.
There were 64 allocation owners of record for surfclam and 33 for ocean quahog in 2019.
Of the 64 initial surfclam allocation owners of record for 2019, 19 were categorized as Commercial Fishing,
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