[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 72 (Friday, April 12, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16236-16237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9115]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 630

[I.D.040896C]


Atlantic Swordfish Fisheries; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold four public hearings to receive comments from 
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed 
amendments to regulations governing the Atlantic swordfish fisheries. 
The proposed rule would: Reduce the total allowable catch to 2,625 
metric tons dressed weight via a split season (June 1 - May 31), 
decrease the minimum size to 73 cm (29 inches) cleithrum to caudal keel 
measure and eliminate the trip allowance for undersized fish, and make 
technical changes to ensure consistency of regulations.
    To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to 
provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the 
proposed rule.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of the public 
hearings. Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or 
before May 2, 1996.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearing 
locations. Written comments should be sent to William Hogarth, Acting 
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of 
Fisheries Conservation and Management (F/CM), National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1335 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Clearly mark 
the outside of the

[[Page 16237]]

envelope ``Atlantic Swordfish Comments.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Hogarth at 301-713-2339; Kevin 
Foster at 508-281-9260.

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 swordfish fisheries, to implement 
recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas, 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, is contained in the proposed rule published 
April 5, 1996 (61 FR 15212) and is 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 public hearings are scheduled as follows:

Friday, April 19, 1996, Barnegat Light, NJ, 7-10 p.m.

    Barnegat Light Firehouse
    West 10th Street
    Barnegat Light, NJ 08006

Monday, April 22, 1996, Silver Spring, MD, 2-5:00 p.m.

    NOAA Building 4, Room 1W611 (Lobby Conference Room)
    1305 East-West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tuesday, April 23, 1996, Fairhaven, MA, 7-10 p.m.

    Seaport Inn (Nantucket Room)
    110 Middle Street
    Fairhaven, MA 02719

Thursday, April 25, 1996, New Orleans, LA, 7-10 p.m.

    Quality Inn Midtown (Napoleon Room)
    3900 Tulane Avenue
    New Orleans, LA 70119
    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 
William Hogarth by April 15, 1996 (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: April 8, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-9115 Filed 4-9-96; 10:10 am]
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