[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7441]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[I.D. 051006C]


Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing 
Operations; Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP) Regulations; 
Sea Turtle Conservation; Restrictions to Fishing Activities

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

ACTION: Notice of workshops.

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SUMMARY: NMFS published a final rule on April 24, 2006, to implement 
the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP) and amend the Mid-
Atlantic large mesh gillnet rule. NMFS is announcing workshops on these 
new regulations. The purpose of the workshops is to provide 
opportunities for commercial fishermen who are affected by the new 
regulations to learn about and understand any new requirements. The 
workshops will consist of presentations on the components of the final 
rule and gear research related to the BDTRP, as well as an opportunity 
to ask questions. Eleven workshops are planned from New Jersey through 
the east coast of Florida, which is the geographic scope of the BDTRP.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION under the heading ``Workshop 
Dates, Times, and Locations'' for the dates and locations of the 
workshops.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final rule, Environmental Assessment, Final 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction 
Team meeting summaries, and the complete citations for all references 
used in this rulemaking may be obtained from the persons listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/trt/bdtrp.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacey Carlson, NMFS, Southeast 
Region, 727-824-5312, [email protected]; Kristy Long, NMFS, 
Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2322, [email protected]; or 
David Gouveia, NMFS, Northeast Region, 978-281-9300, 
[email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunications devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-
800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time, Monday through 
Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS issued the final rule (71 FR 24776, 
April 24, 2006) to implement the regulatory management measures of the 
BDTRP to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury (bycatch) 
of the western North Atlantic coastal bottlenose dolphin stock 
(dolphin) (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet 
fishery and eight other coastal fisheries operating within the 
dolphin's range. The final rule also revises the large mesh size 
restriction under the Mid-Atlantic large mesh gillnet rule for 
conservation of endangered and threatened sea turtles to provide 
consistency among Federal and state management measures. The measures 
contained in the final rule will implement gillnet effort reduction, 
gear proximity requirements, and gear or gear deployment modifications 
to reduce dolphin bycatch below the marine mammal stock's potential 
biological removal level. In addition to the regulatory measures 
contained in the final rule, the BDTRP includes non-regulatory aspects, 
such as outreach and education measures.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    May 8, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Manahawkin, NJ - 151 Route 72 East, 
Manahawkin, NJ 08060.
    May 9, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Ocean City, MD - Clarion Resort, 
Fontainbleau Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.
    May 15, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Virginia Beach, VA - Virginia Aquarium and 
Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 
23451.
    May 16, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Chincoteague, VA - The Chincoteague Center, 
6155 Community Drive, Chincoteague, VA 23336.
    May 17, 20006, 7-9 p.m., Manteo, NC - Roanoke Island Festival Park, 
One Festival Park, Manteo, NC 27954.
    May 18, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Morehead City, NC - Joslyn Hall Auditorium, 
Carteret Community College, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 
28557.
    May 19, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Wilmington, NC - Southern District Office, 
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, 127 Cardinal Drive, 
Wilmington, NC 28405.
    May 22, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Beaufort, SC - Beaufort County Clemson 
Extension Service Office, 102 Beaufort Industrial Village, Suite 101, 
Beaufort, SC 29901.
    May 23, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Midway, GA - Holton's Restaurant, 13711 
Oglethorpe Highway (off I-95 exit 76), Midway, GA 31320.
    May 24, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Mayport, FL - Marine Science Educational 
Center, 1347 Palmer Street, Mayport, FL 32233.
    May 25, 2006, 7-9 p.m., Fort Pierce, FL - Fort Pierce Branch 
Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce, FL 34950.

    Dated: May 10, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7441 Filed 5-15-06; 8:45 am]
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