[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 10992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5294]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030404B]


Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2004)

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 (2004). 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 (2004) 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Chandler at 301-713-2363 ext. 
152. e-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    The NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2004) may be viewed 
in its entirety on the World Wide Web at http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st2/index.html. 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 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.
    This plan is based upon and entirely consistent with the 
overarching NOAA Fisheries Strategic Plan (NFSP) recently released in 
July 2003. The objectives under each goal in the NMFS Strategic Plan 
for Fisheries Research (2004) correspond to strategies in the NFSP.
    The scope of the NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2004) 
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: March 4, 2004.
William Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5294 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S