[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 19, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20918-20919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9699]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 981216308-9124-02; I.D. 040500B]
RIN 0648-AJ67


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries; Vessel 
Monitoring Systems

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

ACTION: Delay of effectiveness.

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SUMMARY: NMFS further delays the effective date of a section of a final 
rule published May 28, 1999, which required certain vessel owner/
operators to install a NMFS-approved vessel monitoring system (VMS). 
The effective date of the VMS requirement is delayed until September 1, 
2000.

DATES: The effective date of 50 CFR 635.69 is September 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management 
Plan (HMS FMP), the final rule and supporting documents can be obtained 
from Rebecca Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Division, Office of

[[Page 20919]]

Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Stevenson, NMFS, (301) 713-2347, 
or Buck Sutter (727) 570-5447.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final regulations to implement the HMS 
FMP, and Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Billfish Fishery Management Plan 
(64 FR 29090, May 28, 1999) included a provision requiring an owner or 
operator of a commercial vessel permitted to fish for Atlantic HMS 
under Sec. 635.4 and that fishes with a pelagic longline to install a 
NMFS-approved VMS unit on board the vessel and operate the VMS unit 
whenever the vessel leaves port with pelagic longline gear on board. 
The VMS requirement of the final rule (Sec. 635.69) was to be effective 
September 1, 1999.
    On August 9, 1999, NMFS delayed the effective date of this final 
rule until January 1, 2000 (64 FR 43101). On October 14, 1999, NMFS 
again delayed the effective date of this final rule until June 1, 2000 
(64 FR 55633). NMFS further delays the effective date of implementation 
of the VMS regulations until September 1, 2000.

    Dated: April 10, 2000.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9699 Filed 4-18-00; 8:45 am]
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