{"abstract":"Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS issues a final rule to implement a harbor porpoise take reduction plan (HPTRP) in the Gulf of Maine and Mid-Atlantic waters. The HPTRP is contained in the HPTRP/ Environmental Assessment/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (HPTRP/EA/FRFA), available upon request (see addresses below). In the Gulf of Maine, these final regulations put into place a series of time and area closures where pingers are required: in the Mid-Coast Closure Area (September 15 through May 31), the Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod South Closure Areas (December 1 through February 28/29 and April 1 through May 31) and establish a new closure area, the Offshore Closure Area, where pingers are required November 1 through May 31. A complete closure has been added in the Cashes Ledge Closure Area, February 1-28/29. These regulations require any fishermen using pingers in the closed areas where pingers are allowed, to receive training and be certified in pinger use. A certificate must be carried onboard the vessel. In the Mid-Atlantic, this plan closes New Jersey waters from January 1 through April 30 to large and small mesh gear unless gear meets the specified gear modifications. This plan closes southern Mid-Atlantic waters from February 1 through April 30 to large and small mesh gear unless gear meets the specified gear modifications. This plan closes New Jersey waters from April 1-April 20 and southern Mid-Atlantic waters from February 15-March 15 for large mesh gear. The region known as the New Jersey Mudhole is closed to small and large mesh gear from February 15- March 15. All small and large mesh gear in the Mid-Atlantic must be tagged by January 1, 2000.","action":"Final rule; notice of availability of take reduction plan.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","id":361,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/361","parent_id":54,"slug":"national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1998/12/02/98-31957.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"229","title":50}],"citation":"63 FR 66464","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective January 1, 1999, except for Sec. 229.33 (a)(2) which becomes effective December 2, 1998, Sec. 229.33(a)(5) which becomes effective December 8, 1998, and Sec. 229.33(a)(3) and (a)(4) which become effective December 16, 1998.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. 970129015-8287-08","I.D. 042597B"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"98-31957","effective_on":"1999-01-01","end_page":66490,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1998/12/02/98-31957/taking-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-commercial-fishing-operations-harbor-porpoise-take-reduction","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/98-31957?publication_date=1998-12-02","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1998-12-02/98-31957/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":27,"page_views":{"count":173,"last_updated":"2026-09-22 18:15:08 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1998-12-02/pdf/98-31957.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1998-12-02","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1998/12/02/98-31957.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0648-AI84":{"issue":"199810","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-AI84/taking-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-commercial-fishing-operations-take-reduction-plan-regulations","title":"Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Take Reduction Plan Regulations and Emergency Regulations","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=199810&RIN=0648-AI84&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0648-AI84"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-21T13:30:22Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":66464,"subtype":null,"title":"Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan Regulations","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":63}