# Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Public Hearings > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-1971 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Uncategorized Document - **Published:** January 31, 1994 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 011994A] 50 CFR Part 285 Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Public Hearings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hearings and extension of comment period; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS will hold three public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed amendments to regulations governing the Atlantic tuna fisheries. The proposed rule would establish fishing category quota allocations for the 1994 bluefin fishing season; amend the specified amount of other species to be landed as a condition for landing an incidental catch of bluefin in the southern longline fishery to 1,500 pounds (680 kg) from January to April and 3,500 pounds (1588 kg) from May to December; adjust to 34 degrees N. latitude the line that separates the northern and southern regulatory areas for vessels using longline gear and possessing an Incidental Catch permit for bluefin; and make corrections to the regulatory text to include prohibiting the retention of bluefin less than 70 inches (178 cm) by persons on vessels without an Angling category permit. In addition, NMFS requests comments on the use of curved length measurements for bluefin and on alternate means to provide closure notices. To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the proposed rule. The comment period is extended by one week to end on February 15, 1994. DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations of the public hearings. Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before February 15, 1994. ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearing locations. Written comments should be sent to Richard H. Schaefer, Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management (F/CM), National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Clearly mark the outside of the envelope ``Atlantic Tuna Comments.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Foster at 508-281-9260 for the Gloucester, MA, hearing; Michael Justen at 813-893-3721 for the Madeira Beach, FL, hearing; and Christopher Rogers at 301-713-2347 for the Silver Spring, MD, hearing, or for general information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulatory amendments that are the subject of the hearings are necessary to improve management and monitoring of the U.S. Atlantic tuna fisheries, to implement the 1993 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendations, and to enhance collection of data to improve assessment of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the fisheries. A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need for the proposed action, are contained in the proposed rule published January 19, 1994 (59 FR 2813) and are not repeated here. Copies of the proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or calling one of the contact persons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). The proposed rule notice indicated a comment period of 20 days duration ending on February 8, 1994. Due to scheduling conflicts, NMFS must conduct the public hearings outside of the originally indicated comment period. Thus, NMFS hereby extends the comment period to end on February 15, 1994. The public hearing schedule is as follows: Monday, February 14, 1994, Gloucester, MA, 7-9 p.m. NOAA/NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, room 102, Gloucester, MA 01930, For information call: (508) 281-9260 Monday, February 14, 1994, Silver Spring, MD, 9 a.m.-12 noon NOAA/NMFS, 1325 East-West Highway, room 2358, Silver Spring, MD 20910, For information call: (301) 713-2347 Friday, February 11, 1994, Madeira Beach, FL, 7-9 p.m. Madeira Beach City Hall, 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, For information call: (813) 893-3721 The purpose of this notice is to alert the interested public of hearings and provide for public participation. These hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Richard H. Schaefer by February 8, 1994 (see ADDRESSES). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. Dated: January 24, 1994. David S. Crestin, Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 94-1971 Filed 1-25-94; 5:01 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-1971. Public record. Not legal advice.