[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3111-3112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1017]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011807B]


Draft (2007) Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research

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: NMFS announces the availability of and seeks public comment on 
the draft (2007) Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research. The Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 
requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop, triennially, a strategic 
plan for fisheries research for the subsequent years. Any written 
comments on the draft plan will be considered by NMFS in the 
development of the final 2007 Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research.

DATES: Comments on the plan must be received on or before February 23, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments on and requests for the draft NMFS Strategic Plan 
for Fisheries Research (2007) should be directed to Mark Chandler, 
Office of Science and Technology, NMFS, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. phone: (301) 713-2367 ext. 152, fax: (301) 
713-1875, e-mail: [email protected].
    Electronic Access: The draft NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries 
Research (2007) may be reviewed in its entirety online at http://www.st.nmfs.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Chandler at 301-713-2367 ext. 
152, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 404 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requires the Secretary of Commerce to publish triennially in the 
Federal Register a five-year strategic plan for fisheries research. The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act also 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 2007 draft Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research is based upon 
and entirely consistent with NMFS' ``New Priorities for the 21st 
Century: National Marine Fisheries Service Strategic Plan Updated for 
FY 2005-FY 2010'' located on the internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/strategic/.
    The 2007 draft document is a component of the all-encompassing NMFS 
Strategic Plan, focusing on science research activities. The objectives 
found under the ``Major Fishery Research Goals and Objectives'' section 
of the Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research can be matched with those 
in the NMFS Strategic Plan. In addition, the strategies, goals and 
objectives of the draft Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research are 
consistent with NOAA's ``New Priorities for the 21st Century: NOAA's 
Strategic Plan- Updated for FY 2006-2011'' available online at http://www.spo.noaa.gov/.

[[Page 3112]]

    The scope of the 2007 draft document is solely fisheries research 
to support the Magnuson-Stevens Act. It does not include the regulatory 
and enforcement components of NMFS' mission. NMFS currently conducts a 
comprehensive program of fisheries research and involves industry and 
others interested in planning and implementing its fisheries 
objectives.
    NMFS intends that the final version of the Strategic Plan for 
Fisheries Research will take advantage of information and 
recommendations from all interested parties. Therefore, comments and 
suggestions on this draft NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research 
are hereby solicited from the public, other concerned government 
agencies, the scientific community, industry, and any other interested 
parties.

    Dated: January 18, 2007.
Steven A. Murawski,
Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1017 Filed 1-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S