[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR697.25]

[Page 851]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 697--ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart B--Management Measures
 
Sec. 697.25  Adjustment to management measures.

    (a) On or before February 15, 2001, and annually on or before 
February 15, thereafter, NMFS may, after consultation with the 
Commission, publish a proposed rule to implement additional or different 
management measures for Federal waters in any of the management areas 
specified in Sec. 697.18 if it is determined such measures are necessary 
to achieve or be compatible with ISFMP objectives, or the ISFMP, to be 
consistent with the national standards of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, or 
to meet overfishing and rebuilding requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act. These management measures may include, but are not limited to, 
continued reductions of fishing effort or numbers of traps, increases in 
minimum or decreases in maximum size, increases in the escape vent size, 
decreases in the lobster trap size, closed areas, closed seasons, 
landing limits, trip limits and other management area-specific measures 
as may be identified and recommended by the Commission prior to December 
1 of the previous year. After considering public comment, NMFS may 
publish a final rule to implement any such measures.
    (b) At any other time, NMFS may publish a proposed rule, after 
consultation with the Commission, to implement any additional or 
different management measures in order to achieve ISFMP objectives or be 
compatible with Commission measures or recommendations or to be 
consistent with the national standards of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, or 
to meet overfishing and rebuilding requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act. After considering public comments, NMFS may publish a final rule to 
implement any such measures.
    (c) Notwithstanding other provisions of this part, NMFS may publish 
any additional or different management measures as described herein 
without prior public comment, pursuant to and consistent with 5 U.S.C. 
553.

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