[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 74217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31613]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121203C]


Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS); Certification of New VMS Unit 
for Use in Northeast Fisheries

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

ACTION: Notice of VMS unit certification.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval and certification of the Boatracs 
FMCT/G (Fisheries Mobile Communications Transceiver/Global Positioning 
System (GPS) based) VMS unit for use in all fisheries in the 
northeastern United States in which VMS units are required.

DATES: This new FMCT/G VMS unit can be used effective December 23, 
2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Northeast Office for Law Enforcement, 
VMS Program, telephone 978-281-9213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations at 50 CFR 648.9 set forth VMS 
requirements for fisheries in the northeastern United States that 
require the use of VMS for fishery monitoring and/or reporting. 
Specifically, Sec.  648.9(b) lists minimum VMS performance criteria 
that a VMS unit must meet in order to be certified for use.
    The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, has reviewed all 
components of the FMCT/G and other information provided by the vendor 
and has certified the following unit for use in all Northeast fisheries 
in which VMS units are required: Boatracs FMCT/G, available from 
Boatracs, 1935 Cordell Court, El Cajon, CA 92020-0911, Telephone: (619) 
438-6000,1-800-336-8722.

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

    Dated: December 16, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31613 Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
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