[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44499-44500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22306]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2868]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Certification Pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162

SUMMARY: On July 21, 1998, the Department of State certified, pursuant 
to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 (``Section 609''), that that 
Venezuela and Nigeria have adopted programs governing the incidental 
capture of sea turtles in their commercial shrimp fisheries comparable 
to the program in effect in the United States. Previously, on May 1, 
1998, the Department certified that 15 other nations have adopted 
programs to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles in their 
shrimp fisheries comparable to the program in effect in the United 
States. The Department of State also certified on May 1, 1998, that the 
fishing environments in 24 countries do not pose a threat of the 
incidental taking of sea turtles protected under Section 609. Shrimp 
imports from any nation not certified were prohibited effective May 1, 
1998 pursuant to Section 609.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 19, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Gibbons-Fly, Office of Marine Conservation, Bureau of Oceans 
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; telephone: (202) 647-3940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 prohibits 
imports of certain categories of shrimp unless the President certifies 
to the Congress not later than May 1 of each year either: (1) that the 
harvesting nation has adopted a program governing the incidental 
capture of sea turtles in its commercial shrimp fishery comparable to 
the program in effect in the United States and has an incidental take 
rate comparable to that of the United States; or (2) that the fishing 
environment in the harvesting nation does not pose a threat of the 
incidental taking of sea turtles. The President has delegated the 
authority to make this certification to the Department of State. 
Revised State Department guidelines for

[[Page 44500]]

making the required certifications were published in the Federal 
Register on April 19, 1996 (61 FR 17342).
    The Department did not previously certify Venezuela and Nigeria 
because the governments of those countries had not demonstrated that 
their respective sea turtle protection programs were comparable to that 
of the United States, or that their specific fishing environments did 
not pose a threat to sea turtles. Although both governments have 
adopted programs comparable to the U.S. program, requiring shrimp trawl 
vessels to use seat turtle excluder devices, initial evidence this year 
indicated that neither government was enforcing its program 
sufficiently to warrant certification. However, in both cases, more 
recent evidence demonstrates that each government has taken the 
necessary steps to improve enforcement of its program. Accordingly, the 
Department of State hereby certifies Venezuela and Nigeria pursuant to 
Section 609(b)(2)(A) and (B).
    As with the other countries currently certified, the Department of 
State will remain in close contact with the governments of Venezuela 
and Nigeria in order to ensure that their shrimp harvesting methods do 
not threaten sea turtles.

    Dated: August 10, 1998.
R. Tucker Scully,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Space.
[FR Doc. 98-22306 Filed 8-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M