[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 28415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13551]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[Docket No. 970129015-7072-02; I.D. 031997B]
RIN 0684-AI84


Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing 
Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations

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: On April 7, 1997, NMFS issued a proposed plan and implementing 
regulations that would reduce serious injury and mortality of four 
large whale stocks that occur incidental to certain fisheries. During 
the comment period NMFS received many comments expressing concern that 
the existing comment period is inadequate to allow for development of 
appropriate comments. Therefore, NMFS is reopening the public comment 
period in order to ensure that these important comments can be 
received.

DATES: Comments on the proposed plan and proposed rule to implement the 
plan must be received by June 13, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-33226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Thounhurst, NMFS, Northeast 
Region, 508/281-9368; Bridget Mansfield, NMFS, Southeast Region, 813/
570-5312; or Michael Payne, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301/
713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 7, 1997 (62 FR 16519), NMFS issued 
a proposed plan and implementing regulations that would reduce the 
bycatch and serious injury and mortality of several large whale stocks 
that occur incidental to fishing for multiple species, including 
monkfish and dogfish, in U.S. New England sink gillnet fisheries; for 
multiple species in the U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fisheries; 
for lobster in the Gulf of Maine and U.S. mid-Atlantic lobster trap/pot 
fisheries; and for sharks in the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark net 
fishery, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The whale 
stocks considered under this plan consist of the North Atlantic right 
whale (Eubalaena glacialis), Western North Atlantic stock, humpback 
whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Western North Atlantic stock, fin whale 
(Balaenoptera physalus), Western North Atlantic stock, and minke whale 
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Canadian East Coast stock. The comment 
period on the proposed rule and regulations implementing the rule ended 
on May 15, 1997. During the comment period NMFS received many comments 
at eleven public hearings expressing concern that the existing comment 
period is inadequate to allow for development of appropriate comments. 
Further, NMFS has been informed that several groups have been convened 
to review the proposed measures in detail in order to provide the 
agency with constructive comments on the proposed rule. Therefore, we 
are reopening the public comment period until June 13, 1997, in order 
to ensure that these important comments can be received.

    Dated: May 19, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Services.
[FR Doc. 97-13551 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F