[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3558-3559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01168]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD692


Availability of the Draft NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy 
for Public Comment

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 is releasing the draft NMFS Climate Science Strategy 
(NCSS) for public review and comment. Additional information, including 
the Strategy for download may be found at: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/ecosystems/climate/.

DATES: Written comments must be received from January 21, 2015 through 
March 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified NOAA-
NMFS-2015-0010, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0010.
     click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required 
fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Valerie Termini, NMFS, Office of Science and 
Technology, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Include on 
the envelope the following identifier ``NCSS Public Comment.''
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Please include 
page number and line number in your comments. Comments sent by any 
other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the 
end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information, including the 
Strategy for download may be found at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/ecosystems/climate/national-call-for-comments, or by contacting Roger 
Griffis, Climate Change Coordinator, NMFS, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
301-427-8134 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Report

    Warming oceans, rising seas and ocean acidification are impacting 
the marine life off of our coasts, disrupting fisheries and local 
economies. These impacts are expected to increase with continued 
changes in the planet's climate and ocean systems. There is much at 
risk. For example, ocean-related fisheries generate $200 billion in 
sales and support 1.7 million jobs nationally each year.\1\
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    \1\ ``Fisheries Economics of the U.S,'' NOAA Office of Science 
and Technology, http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/economics/publications/feus/fisheries_economics_2012.
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    These current and possible future climate-related changes also 
affect NOAA's ability to fulfill its stewardship mandates for marine 
resources and the communities that depend on them. The goal of the 
draft Climate Science Strategy is to increase the production, delivery, 
and use of climate-related information to apprise and fulfill NMFS LMR 
stewardship mandates in a changing climate, including the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, 
National Environmental Policy Act and others.
    The draft Climate Science Strategy identifies seven key steps to 
improve the production and use of climate-related information to 
fulfill agency mandates and increase the resilience of marine resources 
and resource-dependent sectors and communities. The Strategy is 
designed to provide a nationally consistent framework to guide 
development and implementation of regional actions. The Strategy 
proposes specific near and medium-term recommendations, and identifies 
priority recommendations that are common across mandates, regions, 
objectives and living marine resources.
    Implementation of the Strategy over the next five years is crucial 
for effective fulfillment of NMFS mission and mandates with changing 
climate and ocean conditions. Implementation of the Strategy will 
increase the production and delivery of climate-related information 
needed by NMFS and partners to reduce impacts and increase resilience 
of marine resources and the communities that depend on them.
    NMFS works with and depends on many partners to fulfill its science 
and information needs from other federal agencies to academia, 
fisheries and other organizations. As such, we are providing this 
opportunity for broad public review and comment on the draft Strategy.


[[Page 3559]]


    Dated: January 16, 2015.
Stephen K. Brown,
Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-01168 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P