[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 28415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13551]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 229
[Docket No. 970129015-7072-02; I.D. 031997B]
RIN 0684-AI84
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing
Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On April 7, 1997, NMFS issued a proposed plan and implementing
regulations that would reduce serious injury and mortality of four
large whale stocks that occur incidental to certain fisheries. During
the comment period NMFS received many comments expressing concern that
the existing comment period is inadequate to allow for development of
appropriate comments. Therefore, NMFS is reopening the public comment
period in order to ensure that these important comments can be
received.
DATES: Comments on the proposed plan and proposed rule to implement the
plan must be received by June 13, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-33226.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Thounhurst, NMFS, Northeast
Region, 508/281-9368; Bridget Mansfield, NMFS, Southeast Region, 813/
570-5312; or Michael Payne, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301/
713-2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 7, 1997 (62 FR 16519), NMFS issued
a proposed plan and implementing regulations that would reduce the
bycatch and serious injury and mortality of several large whale stocks
that occur incidental to fishing for multiple species, including
monkfish and dogfish, in U.S. New England sink gillnet fisheries; for
multiple species in the U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fisheries;
for lobster in the Gulf of Maine and U.S. mid-Atlantic lobster trap/pot
fisheries; and for sharks in the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark net
fishery, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The whale
stocks considered under this plan consist of the North Atlantic right
whale (Eubalaena glacialis), Western North Atlantic stock, humpback
whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Western North Atlantic stock, fin whale
(Balaenoptera physalus), Western North Atlantic stock, and minke whale
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Canadian East Coast stock. The comment
period on the proposed rule and regulations implementing the rule ended
on May 15, 1997. During the comment period NMFS received many comments
at eleven public hearings expressing concern that the existing comment
period is inadequate to allow for development of appropriate comments.
Further, NMFS has been informed that several groups have been convened
to review the proposed measures in detail in order to provide the
agency with constructive comments on the proposed rule. Therefore, we
are reopening the public comment period until June 13, 1997, in order
to ensure that these important comments can be received.
Dated: May 19, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Services.
[FR Doc. 97-13551 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
