TITLE 50 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES

CHAPTER VI - FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

PART 648 - FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

subpart e - MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE ATLANTIC SURF CLAM AND OCEAN QUAHOG FISHERIES

648.72 - Minimum surf clam size.

  (a) Minimum length. The minimum length for surf clams is 4.75 inches (12.065 cm).

  (b) Determination of compliance. No more than 50 surf clams in any cage may be less than 4.75 inches (12.065 cm) in length. If more than 50 surf clams in any inspected cage of surf clams are less than 4.75 inches (12.065 cm) in length, all cages landed by the same vessel from the same trip are deemed to be in violation of the minimum size restriction.

  (c) Suspension. Upon the recommendation of the MAFMC, the Regional Administrator may suspend annually, by publication in the Federal Register, the minimum shell-height standard, unless discard, catch, and survey data indicate that 30 percent of the surf clams are smaller than 4.75 inches (12.065 cm) and the overall reduced shell height is not attributable to beds where the growth of individual surf clams has been reduced because of density dependent factors.

  (d) Measurement. Length is measured at the longest dimension of the surf clam shell.