[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 59 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16186-16187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7504]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032100A]


National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of 
Sharks

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

ACTION: Notice of revised timeframe.

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SUMMARY: On September 30, 1999, NMFS announced its intention to

[[Page 16187]]

develop a National Plan of Action (NPOA) pursuant to the endorsement of 
the International Plan of Action (IPOA) for the Conservation and 
Management of Sharks by the United Nations Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Ministerial Meeting in 
March 1999. Noting the increased concern about the expanding catches of 
sharks and their potential negative impacts on shark populations, this 
IPOA calls on COFI member states to develop voluntarily national plans 
to ensure the conservation and management of sharks for their long-term 
sustainable use. The United States has committed to reporting on the 
implementation of the NPOA to COFI, no later than the 25th 
COFI session in February 2001. This document provides a revised time 
frame for the completion of this NPOA.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Karyl Brewster-Geisz, 
NOAA Fisheries / SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Margo Schulze-
Haugen, or Steve Meyers, 301-713-2347, or fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IPOA for the conservation and management 
of sharks was endorsed in principle at the 23rd FAO COFI 
session in February 1999 and also at the Fisheries Ministerial Meeting 
in March 1999. As with the two other IPOAs for seabirds and fishing 
capacity, the IPOA for sharks calls on members to develop voluntarily 
an NPOA on this issue.
    On September 30, 1999, NMFS announced that the NPOA was currently 
under development, with a draft NPOA for sharks tentatively due for 
publication in the Federal Register in December, 1999, and full 
completion by February, 2000 (64 FR 52772). Unforseen circumstances 
require NMFS to change the schedule on the availability of the draft 
and final NPOA. NMFS now tentatively expects to have a draft NPOA for 
sharks available for public review in June, 2000, and a final NPOA 
available in September, 2000.

    Dated: March 21, 2000.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-7504 Filed 3-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F