[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 72 (Friday, April 12, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16236-16237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9115]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 630
[I.D.040896C]
Atlantic Swordfish Fisheries; Public Hearings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS will hold four public hearings to receive comments from
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed
amendments to regulations governing the Atlantic swordfish fisheries.
The proposed rule would: Reduce the total allowable catch to 2,625
metric tons dressed weight via a split season (June 1 - May 31),
decrease the minimum size to 73 cm (29 inches) cleithrum to caudal keel
measure and eliminate the trip allowance for undersized fish, and make
technical changes to ensure consistency of regulations.
To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to
provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the
proposed rule.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of the public
hearings. Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or
before May 2, 1996.
ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearing
locations. Written comments should be sent to William Hogarth, Acting
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of
Fisheries Conservation and Management (F/CM), National Marine Fisheries
Service, 1335 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Clearly mark
the outside of the
[[Page 16237]]
envelope ``Atlantic Swordfish Comments.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Hogarth at 301-713-2339; Kevin
Foster at 508-281-9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulatory amendments that are
the subject of the hearings are necessary to improve management and
monitoring of the U.S. Atlantic swordfish fisheries, to implement
recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas, and to enhance collection of data to improve assessment
of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the fisheries.
A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need
for the proposed action, is contained in the proposed rule published
April 5, 1996 (61 FR 15212) and is not repeated here. Copies of the
proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or calling one
of the contact persons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
The public hearings are scheduled as follows:
Friday, April 19, 1996, Barnegat Light, NJ, 7-10 p.m.
Barnegat Light Firehouse
West 10th Street
Barnegat Light, NJ 08006
Monday, April 22, 1996, Silver Spring, MD, 2-5:00 p.m.
NOAA Building 4, Room 1W611 (Lobby Conference Room)
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tuesday, April 23, 1996, Fairhaven, MA, 7-10 p.m.
Seaport Inn (Nantucket Room)
110 Middle Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719
Thursday, April 25, 1996, New Orleans, LA, 7-10 p.m.
Quality Inn Midtown (Napoleon Room)
3900 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
The purpose of this notice is to alert the interested public of
hearings and provide for public participation. These hearings are
physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign
language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to
William Hogarth by April 15, 1996 (see ADDRESSES).
Dated: April 8, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-9115 Filed 4-9-96; 10:10 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
