[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 7760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3887]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 093097G]


Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the Strategic Plan for 
Fisheries Research. Section 404(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires the 
Secretary of Commerce to develop, triennially, a strategic plan for 
fisheries research for the subsequent 5 years.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan should be directed to Mark 
Chandler, Research, Analysis, and Coordination Division, Office of 
Science and Technology, NMFS, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Phone (301) 713-2363. FAX: (301) 713-1875

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Chandler or Carolyn Brown at 
(301) 713-2363.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 404(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requires the Secretary of Commerce to publish in the Federal Register a 
strategic plan for fisheries research for the 5 years immediately 
following the plan's publication. Pursuant to Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requirements, the Plan addresses 4 major areas: (1) Research to support 
fishery conservation and management; (2) conservation engineering 
research; (3) research on the fisheries; and (4) information management 
research. Additionally, the Plan contains a limited number of priority 
objectives for each of these areas; indicates goals and timetables; 
provides a role for commercial fishermen in such research; and provides 
for collection and dissemination of complete and accurate information 
concerning fishing activities.
    In 1997, NMFS published a Strategic Plan for NOAA Fisheries. The 
Plan was developed in a comprehensive manner, with substantial public 
involvement, including 16 public meetings. The present Strategic Plan 
for Fisheries Research is based upon and entirely consistent with the 
NMFS Strategic Plan. It is a subset of the all-encompassing NMFS 
Strategic Plan, focusing on science research activities. The objectives 
found under the Major Fishery Research Goals and Objectives section of 
the subject document can be matched with strategies in the NMFS 
Strategic Plan. In addition, the strategies, goals, and objectives of 
the Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research are wholly consistent with 
the 1993 NOAA Strategic Plan: A Vision for 2005.
    The scope of the present document is solely fisheries research to 
support the Act. It does not include the regulatory or enforcement 
components of the NMFS mission. The document covers current fisheries 
research and how NMFS aims to improve its research under current and 
projected NMFS budgets.

    Dated: January 23, 1998.
William W. Fox, Jr.
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 98-3887 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F