95-351. Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Pilot Study Landing Requirements

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-351]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 630

[Docket No. 931078-4286; I.D. 122294E]


Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Pilot Study Landing Requirements

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

ACTION: Announcement of a change in off-loading requirements.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that volunteer participants selected by NMFS to 
participate in the swordfish pilot program are not required to observe 
the off-loading time requirement when carrying an observer. The 
observer will be collecting statistical data that would otherwise be 
collected by dockside samplers within the off-loading time requirement. 
Therefore, NMFS has determined that the off-loading requirements of the 
regulations are unnecessary during 1995.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1995 through December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rod Dalton, 813-893-3721, or Ron 
Rinaldo, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed 
under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Swordfish and its 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 630 under the authority of the 
Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et 
seq.). Regulations issued under authority of the ATCA carry out the 
recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas.
    Section 630.51(b)(6) of the regulations requires that off- loading 
of vessels participating in the donation program begin between the 
hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time. The Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA, (AA) is authorized under Sec. 630.51(b)(7) to adjust 
these requirements. NMFS is providing observers for all pilot program 
trips in 1995. Therefore, the AA, in consultation with the industry and 
the NMFS Office of Enforcement, waives Sec. 630.51 (b)(6), the off-
loading time requirements for vessels carrying NMFS observers for 1995.

Classification

    This rule is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

    Dated: December 30, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-351 Filed 1-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F