[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15954]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 970515116-7116-01; I.D. 013097A]
RIN 0648-AJ94


Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984; 
Conservation and Management Measures

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

ACTION: Final regulatory notice of fishery management measures.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: At its Fifteenth Meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, October 21 to 
November 1, 1996, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic 
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), of which the United States is a 
member, adopted conservation measures, pending members' approval, 
pertaining to fishing in the CCAMLR Convention Area in Antarctic 
waters. These were agreed upon in accordance with Article IX of the 
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. 
The measures restrict overall catches of certain species of fish, list 
the fishing seasons, define the reporting requirements, and specify 
measures that must be taken to minimize the incidental taking of non-
target species. The measures were announced by the Department of State 
by a preliminary notice in the Federal Register on December 18, 1996. 
Public comments were invited, but none were received. NMFS implements 
these measures by final regulatory notice, consistent with the 
framework process specified in the International Fisheries Regulations 
(50 CFR 300.111).

DATES: Effective June 18, 1997 through June 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the CCAMLR measures and the framework 
environmental assessment may be obtained from the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Tuttle, 301-713-2282.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See 50 CFR Part 300, Subpart G - Antarctic 
Marine Living Resources, and the Department of State's preliminary 
notice at 61 FR 66723, December 18, 1996. The measures for the first 
time set a precautionary catch limit (of 775,000 tons in any fishing 
season) on krill fishing (E. superba) in Statistical Division 58.4.1. 
New fisheries, limited to fishers from the member states who proposed 
them as exploratory fisheries, were approved for the 1996/97 season: 
for deep-water species other than D. eleginoides and C. gunnari in 
Statistical division 58.5.2 by Australia; for D. eleginoides and D. 
mawsoni in Statistical Subarea 58.4.3 by Australia and South Africa; 
for D. eleginoides and D. mawsoni in Statistical Subarea 48.6 by South 
Africa; for D. eleginoides and D. mawsoni in Statistical Subareas 88.1 
and 88.2 by New Zealand; for D. eleginoides and D. mawsoni in 
Statistical Subareas 58.6, 58.7 and Statistical Division 58.4.4 by 
South Africa; and for M. hyadesi in Statistical Subarea 48.3 by Korea 
and the United Kingdom. The definition of nautical twilight used in the 
measure for the minimization of the incidental mortality of seabirds in 
the course on longline fishing or longline fishing research in the 
Convention Area was footnoted to refer to the ``exact times of nautical 
twilight are set forth in the Nautical Almanac tables for the relevant 
latitude, local time and date. All time whether for ship operation or 
observer reporting shall be references to GMT.'' Participation in the 
Convention Area crab fishery is limited to one vessel per Commission 
member. Applications for a crab permit must be received no later than 
ninety days prior to intended harvesting and will be considered in 
order of application. The one U.S. crab permit will be issued on the 
basis of: (1) order of receipt of applications; (2) criteria for 
harvesting permits appearing in 50 CFR 300.112; (3) willingness to 
participate in CCAMLR pilot programs; and (4) record of previous 
participation, if any, in the crab fishery.

Classification

    NMFS has determined that this regulatory notice is necessary to 
implement the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984 
(the Act) and to give effect to the management measures adopted by 
CCAMLR and agreed to by the United States.
    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
for E.O. 12866. It is exempt from 5 U.S.C. 553, because it involves a 
foreign affairs function of the United States. Because prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment are not required for this rule by 5 
U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 60 et seq., are inapplicable.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
    This rule contains a collection-of-information requirement subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of information has been 
approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 648-0194, which expires August 
31, 1997. The annual reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 35 hours. Send comments regarding 
this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of 
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Robin 
Tuttle, NMFS, and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 
(See ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.

    Dated: June 12, 1997.
David Evans,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15954 Filed 6-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F