[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17180]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 227

[Docket No. 921232-2332; I.D. 092192B]

 

Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Listing of the Gulf of Maine 
Population of Harbor Porpoise as Threatened under the Endangered 
Species Act

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: NMFS is reopening the comment period on the proposed rule to 
list Gulf of Maine (GME) harbor porpoise to allow public comment on the 
population status of harbor porpoise following the receipt of new data 
and information on the 1990-93 bycatch rates.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 11, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Director, Office of 
Protected Resources, 1335 East-West Highway, Room 8268, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Payne or Margot Bohan, 301/
713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 7, 1993, NMFS proposed to 
designate the GME population of harbor porpoise as threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The final determination on the proposed 
rule to list harbor porpoise was extended at 58 FR 59230 on November 8, 
1993, to allow for analysis of the 1993 bycatch data prior to final 
determination. At that time, NMFS also stated that it would reopen the 
comment period following completion of these analyses. Therefore, NMFS 
announces that it is reopening the comment period on the proposed rule 
to allow for public review and comment on the 1993 bycatch estimates, 
as well as on the 1990-92 estimates that were adjusted following 
comments received at a February 1994 workshop on the status of harbor 
porpoise in the GME.
    The final 1990-93 bycatch estimates consider those harbor porpoise 
that are taken in the gillnets, but fall out of the net as the nets are 
being hauled back onto the vessel, and as a result have not been 
included in bycatch estimates to date. This has resulted in an increase 
in previously released bycatch estimates for 1990, 1991, and 1992 by 21 
percent, 20 percent, and 33 percent, respectively. These bycatch 
estimates and proceedings from the 1994 harbor porpoise workshop are 
available upon request (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: July 11, 1994.
William W. Fox, Jr., Ph.D.,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-17180 Filed 7-12-94; 10:59 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F