[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 19164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9526]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041002C]


Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2001)

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The NMFS announces the availability of the Strategic Plan for 
Fisheries Research (2001). The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (MSFCMA) requires the Secretary of Commerce to 
develop, triennially, a strategic plan for fisheries research for the 
subsequent 5 years.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries 
Research (2001) should be directed to Mark Chandler, Research, 
Analysis, and Coordination Division, Office of Science and Technology, 
NMFS, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: 
(301) 713-2363. Fax: (301) 713-1875. This document may be viewed in its 
entirety at http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st2/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Chandler at 301-713-2363 ext. 
152.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 404 of the MSFCMA requires the 
Secretary of Commerce to publish in the Federal Register a strategic 
plan for fisheries research for the 5 years immediately following the 
its publication. The MSFCMA requires that the plan address four major 
areas of research: (1) Research to support fishery conservation and 
management; (2) conservation engineering research; (3) research on the 
fisheries; and (4) information management research. The MSFCMA 
specifies that the plan shall contain a limited number of priority 
objectives for each of these research areas; indicate goals and 
timetables; provide a role for commercial fishermen in such research; 
provide for collection and dissemination of complete and accurate 
information concerning fishing activities; and be developed in 
cooperation with the Councils and affected states.
    In 1997, the NOAA Fisheries Strategic Plan (FSP) was published. The 
FSP was developed in a comprehensive manner, with significant public 
involvement, including 16 public meetings. The following year, NMFS 
released the Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (1998). Both the 
original (1998) and the updated (2001) Strategic Plans for Fisheries 
Research are based upon and entirely consistent with the FSP. Many of 
the objectives found under the ``Major Fishery Research Objectives and 
Goals'' section of the subject document can be matched with those in 
the FSP.
    The scope of the NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2001) 
is solely fisheries research to support the MSFCMA. It does not include 
the regulatory and enforcement components of the NMFS' mission. The 
NMFS currently conducts a comprehensive program of fisheries research 
and involves industry and others interested in fisheries in planning 
and implementing its objectives.

    Dated: April 11, 2002.
William Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-9526 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S