[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 6715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2972]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE


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

[Public Notice 4621]

SUMMARY: On January 26, 2004, the Department of State certified, 
pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 (``Section 609''), that 2 
nations, Costa Rica and Honduras, 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 
withdrew certification for one country, Nigeria, due to concerns over 
the effectiveness of its program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 11, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Story, 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 January 26, 2004, the Department certified Costa Rica and 
Honduras on the basis that their sea turtle protection program is 
comparable to that of the United States. These countries join 14 others 
certified by the Department in 2003 on the same basis.
    The Department also withdrew certification for Nigeria, on the 
basis of a determination that the program in place in Nigeria was no 
longer comparable in effectiveness to the program in place in the 
United States. Imports of shrimp harvested by commercial fishing 
technology in Nigeria will not be eligible for importation into the 
United States, though products from artisanal fisheries or aquaculture 
production remain eligible for importation if accompanied by a properly 
executed DS-2031 Shrimp Importer's/Exporter's declaration. No other 
categories of shrimp produced in Nigeria are eligible for importation 
at this time.
    The Department of State has communicated the certifications under 
Section 609 to the Office of Trade Program of the United States Customs 
Service.

    Dated: February 4, 2004.
David A Balton,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 04-2972 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-U