Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Gulf of Maine Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[I.D. 042597B]

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing

Operations; Gulf of Maine Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan

Regulations

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: On August 13, 1997, NMFS published proposed regulations to

implement a plan to reduce the bycatch and mortality of harbor

porpoises that occur incidental to sink gillnet fishing in the Gulf of

Maine. The public comment period for the proposed regulations ended on

October 14, 1997. NMFS is hereby reopening the public comment period

for an additional 30 days. The comment period will reopen on December

16, 1997, and extend until January 14, 1998.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposed regulations to Chief, Marine

Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or

by calling (301) 713-2322. Copies of the draft Harbor Porpoise Take

Reduction Plan (HPTRP) and Environmental Assessment are available upon

request from Douglas Beach, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, or from Donna Wieting, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Chu, NMFS, 508-495-2291 or Donna

Wieting, NMFS, 301-713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 13, 1997 (62 FR 43302), NMFS

published a proposed regulation to implement a plan to reduce the

bycatch and mortality of harbor porpoises that occur incidental to sink

gillnet fishing in the Gulf of Maine. These regulations were based on a

draft HPTRP submitted by the Gulf of Maine Harbor Porpoise Take

Reduction Team (HPTRT) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The notice indicated that comments must be received by October 14,

1997.

NMFS has decided to reconvene the HPTRT on December 16 and 17,

1997. NMFS has, therefore, decided to reopen the public comment period

on the proposed regulations for an additional 30 days from the first

date of the HPTRT meeting.

Dated: December 8, 1997.

Patricia A. Montanio,

Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-32474 Filed 12-11-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F