Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of Summer Flounder

---
identifier: "/us/fr/E7-25271"
source: "fr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of Summer Flounder"
title_number: 0
title_name: "Federal Register"
section_number: "E7-25271"
section_name: "Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of Summer Flounder"
positive_law: false
currency: "2007-12-28"
last_updated: "2007-12-28"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
agency: "Commerce Department"
document_number: "E7-25271"
document_type: "notice"
publication_date: "2007-12-28"
agencies:
  - "Commerce Department"
  - "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"
rin: "0648-XE33"
fr_citation: "72 FR 73766"
fr_volume: 72
fr_action: "Notice."
---


#  Fisheries of the Northeast Region; Overfished Determination of Summer Flounder

**AGENCY:**

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

**ACTION:**

Notice.

**SUMMARY:**

This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that summer flounder is overfished. NMFS notified the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) of its determination by letter. The Council is required to take action within 1 year following notification by NMFS that a stock is overfished or existing remedial action taken to end overfishing or rebuild an overfished stock has not resulted in adequate progress.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**

Debra Lambert, telephone: (301) 713-2341.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**

Pursuant to sections 304(e)(2) and (e)(7) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2) and (e)(7), and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(e)(2), NMFS sends written notification to fishery management councils when overfishing is occurring, a stock is approaching overfishing, a stock is overfished, a stock is approaching an overfished condition, or existing action taken to end previously identified overfishing or rebuilding a previously identified overfished stock or stock complex has not resulted in adequate progress. On December 3, 2007, the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator sent a letter notifying the Council that summer flounder is overfished. Summer flounder is currently under a rebuilding plan. The Council must therefore ensure that overfishing is ended and that the stock rebuilds on schedule. A copy of the notification letter sent to the Council for the aforementioned determination is available at *http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm* .

Dated: December 20, 2007.

James P. Burgess,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.