[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1971]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 011994A]

50 CFR Part 285

 

Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings and extension of comment period; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold three public hearings to receive comments from 
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed 
amendments to regulations governing the Atlantic tuna fisheries. The 
proposed rule would establish fishing category quota allocations for 
the 1994 bluefin fishing season; amend the specified amount of other 
species to be landed as a condition for landing an incidental catch of 
bluefin in the southern longline fishery to 1,500 pounds (680 kg) from 
January to April and 3,500 pounds (1588 kg) from May to December; 
adjust to 34 degrees N. latitude the line that separates the northern 
and southern regulatory areas for vessels using longline gear and 
possessing an Incidental Catch permit for bluefin; and make corrections 
to the regulatory text to include prohibiting the retention of bluefin 
less than 70 inches (178 cm) by persons on vessels without an Angling 
category permit. In addition, NMFS requests comments on the use of 
curved length measurements for bluefin and on alternate means to 
provide closure notices. To accommodate people unable to attend a 
hearing or wishing to provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits 
written comments on the proposed rule. The comment period is extended 
by one week to end on February 15, 1994.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations of 
the public hearings. Written comments on the proposed rule must be 
received on or before February 15, 1994.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearing 
locations. Written comments should be sent to Richard H. Schaefer, 
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management (F/CM), 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Clearly mark the outside of the envelope ``Atlantic 
Tuna Comments.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Foster at 508-281-9260 for the 
Gloucester, MA, hearing; Michael Justen at 813-893-3721 for the Madeira 
Beach, FL, hearing; and Christopher Rogers at 301-713-2347 for the 
Silver Spring, MD, hearing, or for general information.

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 tuna fisheries, to implement the 1993 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 
recommendations, 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, are contained in the proposed rule published 
January 19, 1994 (59 FR 2813) and are 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 proposed rule notice indicated a comment period of 20 days 
duration ending on February 8, 1994. Due to scheduling conflicts, NMFS 
must conduct the public hearings outside of the originally indicated 
comment period. Thus, NMFS hereby extends the comment period to end on 
February 15, 1994.
    The public hearing schedule is as follows:

Monday, February 14, 1994, Gloucester, MA, 7-9 p.m.

NOAA/NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, room 102, Gloucester, MA 01930, For 
information call: (508) 281-9260

Monday, February 14, 1994, Silver Spring, MD, 9 a.m.-12 noon

NOAA/NMFS, 1325 East-West Highway, room 2358, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, For information call: (301) 713-2347

Friday, February 11, 1994, Madeira Beach, FL, 7-9 p.m.

Madeira Beach City Hall, 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 
33708, For information call: (813) 893-3721

    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 
Richard H. Schaefer by February 8, 1994 (see ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.

    Dated: January 24, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-1971 Filed 1-25-94; 5:01 pm]
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