Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 Cfr Part 648 Magnuson-stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast (ne) Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 46 Background

(5) How the establishment of the experimental population may contribute to recovery of the UC spring-run Chinook salmon ESU as a whole; (6) The extent to which the experimental population would be affected by current or future Federal, state, or private actions within or adjacent to the experimental population area; (7) Current programs within the experimental population area that protect fish or aquatic habitats; (8) Whether the experimental population would be essential to the continued existence of the UC spring-run Chinook salmon ESU. The information currently available indicates that the experimental population is likely to be ''nonessential'' for the reasons discussed above. We solicit information to support this conclusion as well as any information to the contrary; (9) Any necessary management restrictions, protective measures, or other management measures that we have not considered; (10) Monitoring or evaluation actions that may be needed to assess the success of the reintroduction; (11) How, if the reintroduction were successful, the experimental population's contribution to overall ESU viability might be assessed; and (12) Names, expertise, and contact information for potential peer reviewers for this designation. We seek individuals with expertise in salmon biology, population ecology, and/or reintroductions of at-risk species. References The complete citations for the references used in this document, as well as the CTCR ESA 10(j) authorization request can be obtained by contacting us directly or via the Internet (see ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to implement measures in Framework Adjustment (FW) 46 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). FW 46 was developed and submitted to NMFS for approval by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to address haddock catch in the Atlantic herring fishery. The proposed rule would increase the haddock incidental catch cap allocated to the Atlantic midwater trawl herring fishery to 1 percent of the Georges Bank (GB) haddock Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and to 1 percent of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock ABC. In addition, this action would modify the cap accountability measures (AMs) such that, upon attainment of the cap, the midwater trawl herring fleet could not catch or land herring in excess of the incidental catch limit (2,000 lb (907.2 kg)) in or from the appropriate haddock stock area. This action is intended to allow the herring fishery to fully utilize available herring quota, while providing incentives for the midwater trawl fishery to minimize haddock catch. ADDRESSES: …