[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65473-65474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18882]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 102606B]


Sea Turtle Conservation; Activities Related to Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking public 
review and comment on information characterizing Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico state trawl fisheries to support the Strategy for Sea Turtle 
Conservation in Relation to Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fisheries 
(Strategy). NMFS is requesting public review of these reports to ensure 
state trawl fishery characterizations contain the most accurate and up-
to-date scientific, commercial, and anecdotal information available and 
to inform potential future management actions to address incidental 
capture of sea turtles in trawl gears (bycatch).

DATES: Written comments on the state trawl characterizations announced 
by this notice, or other information that NMFS should consider, are 
requested on or before January 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea 
Turtle Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments may also be sent via fax to 
(301) 427-2522. Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Include in the subject line of the e-
mail comment the following document identifier: 102606B. Comments sent 
via e-mail, including all attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte 
file size. References used in this document may be obtained by writing 
to this address or by telephoning the contact listed here (See FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanya Dobrzynski (ph. 301-713-2322, 
fax (301) 427-2522, e-mail [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    All species of sea turtles that occur in U.S. waters are listed as 
either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 
NMFS is required to take steps to conserve and recover endangered and 
threatened sea turtles. Incidental capture in fishing gear is a leading 
threat to sea turtle populations. Certain types of gear are more prone 
to incidentally capturing sea turtles than others, depending on the 
design of the gear, the manner in which the gear is fished, and the 
time and area within which it is fished. NMFS initiated the Strategy in 
2003 to institute a new approach to addressing sea turtle bycatch on a 
per-gear basis, rather than fishery by fishery, given that sea turtle 
bycatch is more strongly correlated with gear type than target species. 
The primary objectives of the Strategy are to: (1) conserve and recover 
sea turtles; (2) evaluate sea turtle bycatch across gear types; (3) 
develop and implement measures to reduce bycatch; and (4) authorize 
fishery takes consistent with ESA mandates. A comprehensive approach 
evaluating fishing impacts by gear type across fishing sector as well 
as across state, Federal, and regional boundaries will increase 
management effectiveness and ensure broader compliance with the ESA.
    To execute the goals of the Strategy, NMFS has prioritized fishing 
gear in relation to sea turtle bycatch. Trawl gears operating without 
turtle excluder devices in areas and times where sea turtles are 
present are a high priority gear type under the Strategy. NMFS' efforts 
to address sea turtle bycatch in trawl gears include characterizing 
state and Federal fisheries; monitoring and estimating sea turtle 
takes; undertaking gear research; and working with stakeholders to 
develop solutions.
    To prepare the state fishery characterizations mentioned above, 
NMFS contracted the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to 
prepare Atlantic state reports and individual state agencies in the 
Gulf of Mexico to prepare Gulf state reports. State fishery 
characterizations contain information, where available, on all 
fisheries and fishing gears used in each state's waters. NMFS is 
seeking public review only of trawl gear reports at this time since 
trawls have been identified as a high

[[Page 65474]]

priority gear type under the Strategy. Other gear sections of these 
reports will likely be made available at a future date.
    State trawl gear reports include, where available, information on 
trawl deployment (e.g., how the gear is deployed, where in the water 
column it fishes, when it is fished seasonally); target species; number 
of licensed vessels/fishermen; landings or effort by geographical area; 
recent history, current status, and projected status of the fishery; 
state laws and regulations relevant to sea turtle bycatch reduction 
either directly or indirectly; bycatch monitoring programs (e.g., 
observer coverage); and sea turtle bycatch. Reports generally include 
information from 1999-2004.
    NMFS is interested in corrections, clarifications, additions, or 
updates to the information provided in these reports, especially 
regarding the operation or presence of the trawl fisheries, and/or the 
interaction of sea turtles with this gear type. Public review and 
comment is sought to ensure that management decisions are based upon 
the best information available.
    State trawl reports will be available for review for a period of 60 
days. Individual trawl gear characterizations can be downloaded at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/trawl.htm or copies may be 
requested from Tanya Dobrzynski (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

    Dated: November 2, 2006.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18882 Filed 11-7-06; 8:45 am]
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