Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan

NMFS issues this final rule to implement approved measures contained in the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). These regulations implement the following measures: A target total allowable catch (TAC) level for each of three management areas, one of which is divided into inshore and offshore sub-areas; a procedure for the development and revision of annual specifications; initial specifications for the 2000 fishing year; incidental harvest limits upon closure of a management area; a vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirement for certain vessels; vessel size limits; a framework adjustment process; permitting and reporting requirements; restrictions on transfers at sea; and other measures for administration and enforcement. The intended effect of this final rule is to manage the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) fishery pursuant to the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the FMP and to prevent overfishing of the Atlantic herring resource. This final rule also withdraws approval of the Preliminary Management Plan (PMP) for the Atlantic Herring Fishery of the Northwestern Atlantic and removes existing regulations related to Atlantic herring upon the effective date of the final rule. Finally, NMFS informs the public of the approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule and publishes the OMB control numbers for these collections.