[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22924]



[[Page 57346]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 000622191-2104-02; I.D. 041700D]
RIN 0648-A035


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pelagic Fisheries; Measures To Reduce the Incidental Catch of Seabirds 
in the Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery

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

ACTION: Announcement of effectiveness of a collection-of-information 
requirement.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the effectiveness of a collection-of-
information requirement for participants in the Hawaii-based longline 
limited access fishery, whereby in the event an endangered short-tailed 
albatross is accidentally hooked or entangled during fishing 
operations, NMFS or the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) or U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) must be notified immediately. Recovery 
information on short-tailed albatross, which is retrieved from the 
ocean by a Hawaii-based longline vessel, must be recorded on a data 
form provided by NMFS. If the retrieved short-tailed albatross is dead 
or dies on board the vessel, information tags must be attached to the 
carcass and specimen bag.

DATES: Paragraphs 660.35(b)(4)(i), 660.35(b)(6), and 660.35(b)(8) of 
the final rule published May 14, 2002 (67 FR 34408), are effective 
October 10, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin Z. Katekaru, Pacific Islands 
Area Office, NMFS, 808-973-2937.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 14, 2002 (67 FR 34408), NMFS 
published a final rule that promulgated a regulatory amendment, under 
the Fishery Management Plan for the Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 
Pacific Region, permanently codifying seabird take mitigation measures 
in the Hawaii-based longline fishery. Section 660.35 (Pelagic longline 
seabird mitigation measures) of that final rule contains a collection-
of-information requirement for any vessel registered for use under a 
Hawaii longline limited access permit. Immediate notification must be 
provided to NMFS, the USCG, or the USFWS of any hooking or entanglement 
of an endangered short-tailed albatross during longline fishing 
operations. If the albatross is retrieved dead or dies on board the 
vessel, an identification tag must be attached directly to the carcass 
listing the species, location, and date of mortality, and band number 
if the bird has a leg band. A duplicate identification tag must be 
attached to the specimen bag or container holding the carcass. If the 
retrieved short-tailed albatross is alive, the condition of the bird 
must be recorded on a recovery data form provided by NMFS. The 
information may be used by a veterinarian in providing advice to the 
vessel operator and crew on the care and recovery of an injured short-
tailed albatross.
    In the final rule, NMFS requested comments on the reporting burden 
estimate or any other aspect of the collection-of-information 
requirements that are in this final rule. No comments were received on 
the collection-of-information requirements.
    Because the notification and reporting activities constitute a 
collection-of-information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, it 
could not be enforced prior to approval by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Delayed enforcement of Sec. Sec. 660.35(b)(4)(i), 
660.35(b)(6), and 660.35(b)(8) was announced in the May 14, 2002, final 
rule pending OMB approval of short-tailed albatross interaction 
notification and reporting procedures. OMB has approved the collection-
of-information requirement under OMB control number 0648-0456. Sections 
660.35(b)(4)(i), 660.35(b)(6), and 660.35(b)(8) are effective September 
30, 2002, and will be enforced from that date on.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: September 4, 2002.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 02-22924 Filed 9-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S