[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 19157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10001]
[[Page 19157]]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
[Public Notice 2528]
Certifications Pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162
April 3, 1997.
SUMMARY: On April 30, 1996, the Department of State certified, pursuant
to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162, that 36 countries with commercial
shrimp trawl fisheries have adopted programs to reduce the incidental
capture of sea turtles in such fisheries comparable to the program in
effect in the United States and have an incidental take rate comparable
to that of the United States, or that the fishing environment in the
countries does not pose a threat of the incidental taking of species of
sea turtles protected under U.S. law and regulations. The Department
has also certified four other countries since that time. The Department
was unable to issue a certification for Brazil on April 30, 1996, and,
as a result, imports of shrimp harvested in Brazil in a manner harmful
to sea turtles were prohibited effective May 1, 1996. The Department of
State subsequently issued a certification for Brazil on April 2, 1997,
and, as a result, the ban on shrimp imports from that country that had
been in effect since May 1, 1996, was lifted.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 18, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hollis Summers, Office of Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; telephone: (202) 647-3940.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 prohibits
imports of shrimp unless the President certifies to the Congress not
later than May 1 of each year either: (1) That the harvesting nation
has adopted a program governing the incidental capture of sea turtles
in its commercial shrimp fishery comparable to the program in effect in
the United States and has an incidental take rate comparable to that of
the United States; or (2) that the fishing environment in the
harvesting nation does not pose a threat of the incidental taking of
sea turtles. The President has delegated the authority to make this
certification to the Department of State. Revised State Department
guidelines for making the required certifications were published in the
Federal Register on April 19, 1996 (61 FR 17342).
On April 30, 1996, the Department of State certified that 36 shrimp
harvesting nations have met, for the current certification year, the
requirements of the law. The Department has also certified four
additional countries since that time. The Department of State was
unable to certify Brazil at that time. As a result, imports of shrimp
from Brazil that were harvested in ways harmful to sea turtles were
prohibited pursuant to Public Law 101-162, effective May 1, 1996.
The Department did not previously certify Brazil because the
Government of Brazil had not demonstrated that its sea turtle
protection program was comparable to that of the United States, or that
its specific fishing environment did not pose a threat to sea turtles.
The Government of Brazil has now provided documentary evidence of the
adoption of a sea turtle protection program comparable to the program
in the United States. On February 19, 1997, Brazil adopted a regulation
prohibiting shrimp trawling conducted in ways harmful to sea turtles.
The regulation requires all shrimp trawl vessels, including the vessels
fishing for pink shrimp in the southern region, to use turtle excluder
devices (TEDs). The Department of State, therefore, was able to certify
to Congress that Brazil has met the standards of Section 609 of Public
Law 101-162.
Dated: April 3, 1997.
Mary Beth West,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans.
[FR Doc. 97-10001 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M
