[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 11410] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-6193] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 300 [I.D. 021197C] International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; Second Draft Implementation Plan AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a second Draft Implementation Plan (Plan) for the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Code) and invites review and comment. The purpose and intended effect of this action is to improve the document and inform the public of its content. DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before April 28, 1997 ADDRESSES: Send comments to Matteo Milazzo, International Fisheries Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matteo Milazzo, 301-713-2276. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 1996, NMFS announced the availability of an initial Plan for the Code in the Federal Register (61 FR 38703) and requested comments by September 23, 1996. At the close of this period, it became clear that several of the public comments raised substantive issues. During the same period, two other relevant developments took place. First, the Congress passed numerous and significant amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in the form of the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) and, second, NOAA/NMFS moved into the final and substantive phase of its long-term program planning exercise, the NMFS Fisheries Strategic Plan. The requirements of the SFA and the Strategic Plan point in the same directions as the Code. In effect, NMFS will implement the Code domestically as it carries out its Congressionally mandated responsibilities and the objectives of the Strategic Plan. Accordingly, NMFS has redrafted the Plan, taking into account (1) the comments received on the first draft; (2) the guidance provided by Congress in the Sustainable Fisheries Act; and (3) the long-term program planning that is being developed through the NMFS Fisheries Strategic Plan. With this notice, NMFS notifies the public of the second draft's availability for comment. It includes the Agency's definition of a sustainable fishery, i.e., one in which the rate or level of fishing mortality does not jeopardize the capacity of the fishery to produce the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis. For further background and rationale for the Plan, please refer to the notice of availability published on July 25, 1996. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 6, 1997. Nancy Foster, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-6193 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F