Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[Docket No. 970129015-7072-02; I.D. 031997B]

RIN 0684-AI84

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing

Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On April 7, 1997, NMFS issued a proposed plan and implementing

regulations that would reduce serious injury and mortality of four

large whale stocks that occur incidental to certain fisheries. During

the comment period NMFS received many comments expressing concern that

the existing comment period is inadequate to allow for development of

appropriate comments. Therefore, NMFS is reopening the public comment

period in order to ensure that these important comments can be

received.

DATES: Comments on the proposed plan and proposed rule to implement the

plan must be received by June 13, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of

Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-33226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Thounhurst, NMFS, Northeast

Region, 508/281-9368; Bridget Mansfield, NMFS, Southeast Region, 813/

570-5312; or Michael Payne, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301/

713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 7, 1997 (62 FR 16519), NMFS issued

a proposed plan and implementing regulations that would reduce the

bycatch and serious injury and mortality of several large whale stocks

that occur incidental to fishing for multiple species, including

monkfish and dogfish, in U.S. New England sink gillnet fisheries; for

multiple species in the U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fisheries;

for lobster in the Gulf of Maine and U.S. mid-Atlantic lobster trap/pot

fisheries; and for sharks in the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark net

fishery, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The whale

stocks considered under this plan consist of the North Atlantic right

whale (Eubalaena glacialis), Western North Atlantic stock, humpback

whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Western North Atlantic stock, fin whale

(Balaenoptera physalus), Western North Atlantic stock, and minke whale

(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Canadian East Coast stock. The comment

period on the proposed rule and regulations implementing the rule ended

on May 15, 1997. During the comment period NMFS received many comments

at eleven public hearings expressing concern that the existing comment

period is inadequate to allow for development of appropriate comments.

Further, NMFS has been informed that several groups have been convened

to review the proposed measures in detail in order to provide the

agency with constructive comments on the proposed rule. Therefore, we

are reopening the public comment period until June 13, 1997, in order

to ensure that these important comments can be received.

Dated: May 19, 1997.

Rolland A. Schmitten,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries

Services.

[FR Doc. 97-13551 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F