[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2943]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 9, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 644

[I.D. 011194F]

 

Atlantic Billfish Fisheries

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

ACTION: Atlantic billfishes; notice of scoping meetings and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold scoping meetings to receive comments concerning 
the Atlantic billfish fishery from fishery participants and other 
members of the public regarding: A definition of overfishing; reducing 
fishing mortality; reporting requirements; and other issues. NMFS is 
also soliciting written comments on issues of concern in this fishery. 
NMFS requests input at any time during the scoping process, by mail or 
by fax. An issues/options statement will be prepared for the initial 
hearing and revised, based on written and oral comments, for subsequent 
hearings.

DATES: Written scoping comments must be received on or before April 11, 
1994. The Scoping meetings will be held on February 21, March 3, and 
March 24, 1994. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to Richard B. Stone, 
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/CM4), Office of 
Fisheries Conservation and Management, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1315 East-West Highway, room 14853, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Clearly mark the outside of the envelope ``Atlantic Billfish Scoping 
Comments.'' Input for the issues/options statement may also be provided 
to the same address, or by sending a fax to C. Michael Bailey at 301-
713-1035.
    The Scoping meetings will be held in Miami, FL; Rockport, ME; and 
Linthicum, MD. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey at telephone 301-
713-2347 or fax 301-713-1035.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico 
billfish fisheries are managed under authority of the Magnuson Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.). Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations implementing 
the fishery management plan (FMP) at 50 CFR part 644.

Atlantic Billfishes

    Final regulations implementing the FMP for Billfishes of the 
Atlantic Ocean became effective on September 28, 1988. Billfish means 
sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus; white marlin, Tetrapturus albidus; 
blue marlin, Makaira nigricans; and longbill spearfish, Tetrapturus 
pfluegeri.
    To reduce fishing mortality, and as part of the rebuilding program, 
the FMP established minimum sizes, prohibited fishing with certain gear 
types and prohibited sale of billfish. NMFS wishes to obtain public 
comment on any problems that might have developed in this fishery and 
options for dealing with these problems. Issues to be scoped include: A 
definition of overfishing; reducing fishing mortality; reporting 
requirements; and any other issues of concern.

Scoping Meetings

    Depending upon the interest of the audience, the Meeting Officer 
may increase the length of the meetings, and additional meetings may be 
announced at a later date. The meeting schedule is as follows:

February 21, 1994, Miami, Florida 1 to 4 p.m.

RSMAS Auditorium, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, 
Miami, Florida 33149-1098

March 3, 1994, Rockport, Maine 7 to 8 p.m.

Samoset Resort, Warrington Street, Rockport, Maine 04856

March 24, 1994, Linthicum, Maryland 6 to 9 p.m.

At site of ICCAT Advisory Committee meeting: Guest Quarters Hotel, 
Baltimore-Washington International Airport, 1300 Concourse Drive, 
Linthicum, MD 21090

    Dated: February 3, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management.
[FR Doc. 94-2943 Filed 2-4-94; 3:21 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P