[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9732]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[I.D. 121800E]


Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Public Hearing

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY:  On March 30, 2001, NMFS published a proposed rule under the 
authority of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1949 (Act). NMFS indicated in 
the proposed rule that a public hearing would be held to obtain public 
comment on the proposed rule. This notice announces the place, date, 
and time of the hearing. In addition to holding the hearing, NMFS is 
accepting written comments on the proposed rule.

DATES:  The public hearing will be held on April 27, 2001, at 9 a.m. 
Written comments will be accepted through April 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 
601 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101; telephone: 619-239-2400; fax: 
619-239-1520. Written comments should be sent to Svein Fougner, 
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
CA 90802, or faxed to 562-980-4047. Comments will not be accepted if 
submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Svein Fougner, (562) 980-4040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  On March 30, 2001, NMFS published a 
proposed rule (66 FR 17387) to implement two recommendations that were 
agreed to by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and 
approved by the Department of State in accordance with the Act. The 
first recommendation would establish measures implementing a 1-year 
pilot program to reduce bycatch in the tuna purse seine fisheries 
conducted by vessels from members of the IATTC. The second would 
require commercial fishermen who fish in the Convention Area (set forth 
at 50 CFR part 300, subpart C) to report certain information about 
their vessels for a regional vessel register being developed by the 
IATTC. Under the Act, a public hearing must be held before implementing 
IATTC recommendations.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Svein Fougner (see ADDRESSES), 562-980-4040 
(voice) or 562-980-4047 (facsimile), at least 5 days prior to the 
hearing date.

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

    Dated: April 13, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9732 Filed 4-18-01; 8:45 am]
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