[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 2205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-627]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4955]


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

SUMMARY: On December 21, 2004, the Department of State certified, 
pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 (``Section 609''), that 
Venezuela has adopted a program to reduce the incidental capture of sea 
turtles in its shrimp fisheries comparable to the program in effect in 
the United States. On December 21, 2004, the Department of State 
withdrew certification for Trinidad and Tobago and for Panama pursuant 
to Section 609 because neither country's program for protecting sea 
turtles in its shrimp fisheries is determined to be comparable to the 
program in effect in the United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 12, 2005.

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 December 21, 2004, the Department certified Venezuela on the 
basis that its sea turtle protection program is comparable to that of 
the United States. This country joins 14 others certified by the 
Department in 2004 on the same basis. On December 21, 2004, the 
Department withdrew certification for Trinidad and Tobago and for 
Panama because the sea turtle protection program in place for 
commercial shrimp trawl fisheries in these nations is not comparable in 
effectiveness to that of the United States.
    The Department of State has communicated the certification of 
Venezuela under Section 609, and the withdrawal of certification for 
Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, to the Office of Trade Program of 
Customs and Border Protection, as well as to the governments of the 
affected nations.

    Dated: January 5, 2005.
David A Balton,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 05-627 Filed 1-11-05; 8:45 am]
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