[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24784-24785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11465]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4360]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Certifications Pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162

SUMMARY: On April 30, 2003, the Department of State certified, pursuant 
to section 609 of Public Law 101-162 (``Section 609''), that 15 nations 
have adopted programs to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles 
in their shrimp fisheries comparable to the program in effect in the 
United States. The Department also certified that the fishing 
environments in 24 other countries and one economy, Hong Kong, do not 
pose a threat of the incidental taking of sea turtles protected under 
section 609. Shrimp imports from any nation not certified were 
prohibited effective May 1, 2003 pursuant to section 609.

EFFECTIVE DATE: On Publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hogan, Office of Marine 
Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and 
Scientific Affairs, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; 
telephone: (202) 647-2335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 prohibits 
imports of certain categories of shrimp unless the President certifies 
to the Congress not later than May 1 of each year either: (1) That the 
harvesting nation has adopted a program governing the incidental 
capture of sea turtles in its commercial shrimp fishery comparable to 
the program in effect in the United States and has an incidental take 
rate comparable to that of the United States; or (2) that the fishing 
environment in the harvesting nation does not pose a threat of the 
incidental taking of sea turtles. The President has delegated the 
authority to make this certification to the Department of State. 
Revised State Department guidelines for making the required 
certifications were published in the Federal Register on July 2, 1999 
(Vol. 64, No. 130, Public Notice 3086).
    On April 30, 2003, the Department certified 15 nations on the basis 
that their sea turtle protection program is comparable to that of the 
United States: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, 
Suriname, Thailand, and Trinidad and Tobago.
    The Department also certified 24 shrimp harvesting nations and one 
economy as having fishing

[[Page 24785]]

environments that do not pose a danger to sea turtles. Sixteen nations 
have shrimping grounds only in cold waters where the risk of taking sea 
turtles is negligible. They are: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, 
Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New 
Zealand, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Eight 
nations and one economy only harvest shrimp using small boats with 
crews of less than five that use manual rather than mechanical means to 
retrieve nets, or catch shrimp in using other methods that do not 
threaten sea turtles. Use of such small-scale technology does not 
adversely affect sea turtles. The eight nations and one economy are: 
The Bahamas, China, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Hong Kong, Jamaica, 
Oman, Peru and Sri Lanka.
    The Department of State has communicated the certifications under 
section 609 to the Office of Trade Program of the United States Customs 
Service.

    Dated: May 1, 2003.
David A. Balton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 03-11465 Filed 5-7-03; 8:45 am]
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