[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27233]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 644

[I.D. 071698B(1)]
RIN 0648-AJ67


Atlantic Billfish Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft fishery management plan (FMP) 
amendment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the submission of draft Amendment 1 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic Billfish Fishery for 
Secretarial review. Draft Billfish Amendment 1 defines overfishing 
criteria, develops rebuilding management strategies, defines essential 
fish habitat, and establishes framework procedures for regulatory 
changes affecting the management of the Atlantic billfish fishery.

DATES: Written comments on draft Billfish Amendment 1 must be received 
on or before January 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on draft Billfish Amendment 1 should be 
sent to, and copies of the document are available from, Rebecca Lent, 
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin at (301) 713-2347 or 
Buck Sutter at (727) 570-5324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic billfish fishery is managed 
under an FMP implemented in March 1988, with regulations published at 
50 CFR part 644 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et 
seq.).
    Upon implementation of Billfish Amendment 1, the Secretary will 
implement Atlantic billfish regulations under the authority of both the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA. Regulations issued under the authority 
of ATCA carry out the recommendations of the International Commission 
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
    If approved, Billfish Amendment 1 will define overfishing status 
determination criteria, which designate Atlantic blue marlin and 
Atlantic white marlin as overfished. NMFS has developed a two-part 
strategy: a suggested international rebuilding scheme and domestic 
management measures. Together, these two components identify biomass 
and fishing mortality limits and propose a suite of preferred 
management alternatives designed to reduce fishing mortality, bycatch, 
and bycatch mortality. Preferred alternatives include measures to 
rebuild overfished fisheries in timeframes consistent with guidelines 
for implementation of National Standard 1, to control fishing effort 
and increase the minimum size for for blue and white marlin, to 
implement billfish reporting requirements, and to address issues of 
safety at sea and enforcement. In addition, essential fish habitat 
(EFH) is defined for Atlantic billfish.
    In a separate notice to be published in the Federal Register, NMFS 
will propose regulations to implement the preferred alternatives 
specified in the draft Billfish Amendment 1. During the comment period 
on the proposed rule, NMFS will hold public hearings on the draft 
Billfish Amendment 1 and on the proposed implementing regulations. The 
dates and locations of these public hearings will be published in the 
Federal Register at a later date. NMFS specifically requests comment on 
the designation of sargassum weed as EFH for Atlantic billfish. NMFS 
also seeks determinations from coastal states on whether the preferred 
management measures would be consistent with the existing or planned 
state regulations and should be applicable in state waters.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.

    Dated: October 5, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27233 Filed 10-6-98; 2:36 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F