Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Adjustment to the 2002 Black Sea Bass Total Allowable Landings (TAL)

NMFS restores 10,000 lb (4,534 kg) of unused research set- aside to the 2002 black sea bass TAL, and makes corresponding adjustments to the 2002 black sea bass recreational harvest limit and the 2002 Quarter 4 commercial quota. This action complies with Framework Adjustment 1 to Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which implemented procedures for setting aside up to 3 percent of the annual TAL to fund research activities for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. Framework Adjustment 1 also specified that, if a research proposal is disapproved by NMFS or the NOAA Grants Office, the research set-aside for that proposal would be reallocated (i.e., added back) into the TAL. On June 21, 2002, NMFS disapproved a research project for which 10,000 lb (4,534 kg) of the black sea bass TAL had been set-aside. The intent of this action is to restore 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) to the overall 2002 black sea bass TAL.