[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 15659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8364]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022497A]


Fisheries Bycatch Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of and seeks public comment on 
the draft NMFS bycatch plan, Managing the Nation's Bycatch: Priorities, 
Programs and Actions for the National Marine Fisheries Service. The 
NMFS bycatch plan will guide the agency's bycatch-related research and 
management for the next decade. Any written comments received will be 
considered by NMFS in the adoption and implementation of the final 
bycatch plan.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before May 19, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the NMFS bycatch plan should be 
directed to the NMFS Office of Science and Technology, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD. 20910. PHONE:(301)713-2363. FAX: (301)713-
1875. The NMFS bycatch plan is also available in its entirety on the 
Internet at http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John F. Witzig, 508-495-2305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Interest in bycatch in the Nation's fisheries has received 
increased attention in the last decade. During this time, NMFS and its 
constituents have come to agree that fisheries bycatch is an issue of 
great concern to those interested in sustainable fisheries and marine 
ecosystems. Congress has emphasized NMFS' responsibility to address 
bycatch in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act. 
Following a series of public symposia and workshops with industry, the 
conservation community, scientists, Native Alaskan groups, and others, 
NMFS undertook development of a national bycatch plan. The NMFS bycatch 
plan will be used as a blueprint for the agency's bycatch-related 
research and management for the next decade.
    In the development of the plan, NMFS conducted a survey of 
available information on bycatch in the Nation's fisheries and efforts 
to understand and manage the issue. The survey, which is included in 
the bycatch plan, is intended to update information previously compiled 
elsewhere, and to serve as a benchmark from which to judge future 
efforts in data collection and management efforts to mitigate negative 
effects of bycatches.
    Issues in each of NMFS' administrative regions and on the national 
level are addressed in detail in the NMFS bycatch plan. This discussion 
forms the basis for a set of research and management recommendations 
that will help guide the agency's bycatch-related activities. Broadly, 
recommendations in the plan address the acquisition of bycatch data, 
gear technology and selectivity research, the effects of bycatch, 
research on individual incentive programs to manage bycatch, 
development and implementation of conservation and management measures 
to address bycatch, and information exchange and cooperative 
management.

Request for Comments

    NMFS intends that the final version of the bycatch plan will take 
advantage of information and recommendations from all interested 
parties. Therefore, comments and suggestions are hereby solicited from 
the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific 
community, industry, and any other person concerned with this draft 
NMFS Bycatch Plan.

    Dated: March 26, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8364 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F