Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; Atlantic Menhaden Fishery

In accordance with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has determined that the Commonwealth of Virginia has failed to carry out its responsibilities under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan (ISFMP) for Atlantic Menhaden and that the measure Virginia has failed to implement and enforce is necessary for the conservation of the Atlantic menhaden resource. This determination is consistent with the findings of the Commission on October 31, 2019. Pursuant to the Atlantic Coastal Act, a Federal moratorium on fishing for Atlantic menhaden in Virginia state waters and possession and landing of Atlantic menhaden harvested in Virginia State waters is hereby declared and will be effective on June 17, 2020. The moratorium will be terminated when the Commission notifies the Secretary that Virginia is found to have come back into compliance with the Commission's ISFMP for Atlantic menhaden.