[Federal Register: January 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 5)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1024-1025]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ja03-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 010203A]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin
Tuna; Commercial Shark Management Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS will conduct four public hearings to receive comments
from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding
proposed regulations to reduce dead discards of Atlantic bluefin tuna
(BFT) in the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery and emergency
regulations in the Atlantic shark fisheries that implemented commercial
quotas for 2003 and suspended the commercial minimum size limit. NMFS
previously published the proposed rule regarding incidental catch
requirements of BFT on December 24, 2002. NMFS previously published the
emergency rule regarding Atlantic sharks on December 27, 2002.
DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule regarding BFT must be
received by 5 p.m. on February 7, 2003. Written comments on the
emergency rule regarding Atlantic sharks must be received by 5 p.m. on
February 14, 2003. The public hearings will be held from January 22 to
January 30, 2003. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and
times.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Barnegat Light, NJ; Manteo, NC;
Treasure Island, FL; and Fairhaven, MA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
for specific locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad McHale or Dianne Stephan at 978-
281-9260 regarding the proposed rule on BFT and Karyl Brewster-Geisz at
301-713-2347 regarding the emergency rule on commercial shark
management measures.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS proposes to amend regulations governing
the BFT fishery to reduce discards of BFT in the Atlantic pelagic
longline fishery. The intent of these actions is to minimize dead
discards of BFT and improve management of the Atlantic pelagic longline
fishery, while complying with the National Standards of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)
and allowing harvest of BFT consistent with recommendations of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The
December 24, 2002, proposed rule (67 FR 78404) contains the background
information for this measure and that information is not repeated here.
NMFS issued an emergency rule, effective December 31, 2002, that
set the 2003 commercial quotas for large and small coastal sharks,
suspended the commercial minimum size limit, and allowed regulations on
season-specific quota adjustments and counting dead discards and state
landings after a Federal closure against the commercial quotas to go
into effect. These regulations are necessary to ensure that the
regulations in force are based on the best available science. The
December 27, 2002, emergency rule (67 FR 78990) contains the background
information for these measures and that information is not repeated
here.
Hearing and Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations
The hearings for the proposed and emergency rules will be conducted
jointly at the identified locations. NMFS intends to dedicate half of
the hearing time to each rule. The public hearing schedule is as
follows:
Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - Barnegat Light, NJ, 7 - 9 p.m.
Barnegat Light Fire House
10th Boulevard Street
Long Island Beach
Barnegat Light, NJ 08006
Monday, January 27, 2003 - Manteo, NC, 7 - 9 p.m.
North Carolina Aquarium
Airport Road
Manteo, NC 27954
Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - Treasure Island, FL, 7 - 9 p.m.
Garden Room
City of Treasure Island Community Center
1 Park Place at 106th Avenue
Treasure Island, FL 33706
[[Page 1025]]
Thursday, January 30, 2003 - Fairhaven, MA, 7 - 9 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express
110 Middle Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719
Special Accommodations
These public hearings will be physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed Brad McHale (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the hearing.
Dated: January 2, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-323 Filed 1-7-03; 8:45 am]
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