[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4945-4946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2194]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120999G]


National Plan for the Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds 
in Longline Fisheries

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

ACTION:  Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY:  A draft National Plan of Action for the Reduction of 
Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-Seabirds) was 
released for public comment on December 27, 1999, through a Federal 
Register notice. The public comment period listed in the previous 
notice expired on January 18, 2000. This notice extends this public 
comment period to February 7, 2000.

DATES:  Written comments to the draft NPOA-Seabirds should be received 
no later than February 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Comments on the NPOA-Seabirds should be sent to David 
Kerstetter, NOAA - Fisheries/SF4, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, or by fax to 301-713-2313. Comments will not be 
accepted via e-mail or internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  David Kerstetter, (301) 713-2276, 
ext. 107, or fax 301-713-2313.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The United States, through a collaborative 
effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is developing a NPOA-
Seabirds pursuant to the endorsement of the International Plan of 
Action for the Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline 
Fisheries by the Food and Agriculture Organization of

[[Page 4946]]

the United Nations Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Meeting in February 
1999. The United States has committed itself to completing the NPOA-
Seabirds and reporting to COFI no later than 2001.
    A previous Federal Register notice dated December 29, 1999 (64 FR 
73017) provided notice of the availability of a draft NPOA-Seabirds and 
stated that public comment on this draft would be accepted until 
January 18, 2000. This notice extends the period of public comment to 
February 7, 2000.

    Dated: January 27, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2194 Filed 2-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F