[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 153 (Friday, August 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42766-42767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20925]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(I.D. 072297C)


Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries 
Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of process; developing U.S. positions on FAO fisheries 
issues.

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SUMMARY: Important events occurred at the United Nations Food and 
Agriculture Organization's (FAO's) meeting of the Committee on 
Fisheries (COFI) in March 1997. The United States highlighted several 
fisheries issues for FAO and member countries to take action on in the 
near future: Managing fishing capacity, seabird bycatch and mortality 
in longline fisheries, and shark conservation and management.
    The United States is working with FAO on preparations designed to 
lead to an FAO Consultation, with all FAO member countries invited, to 
consider action plans for all three issues in late 1998. Preparations 
will include meetings of expert Technical Working Groups (TWGs) with 
the result that FAO will provide background information and draft plans 
of action well in advance of the FAO Consultation.
    NMFS is involved directly in each of these initiatives and believes 
that keeping affected industries and interested groups informed is 
important. The public is invited to contact the individuals identified 
in supplementary information to declare interest and receive further 
information, including the terms of reference for the TWGs when these 
become available. Public meetings that may be required in the planning 
for the FAO COFI Consultation will be announced in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Questions about this document may be directed to Dean 
Swanson, Chief, International Fisheries Division, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Swanson, 301-713-2276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Management of Fishing Capacity

    It is widely recognized that excess fishing effort exerted by 
unnecessarily large fishing fleets is often a contributing factor to 
the depletion of fish stocks. Excess fishing capacity can be a major 
impediment to effective management and a major source of economic 
waste. Although an international consensus appears to be emerging on 
the need for improved control of fishing capacity, its implementation 
at the national, regional, and global levels is proving to be 
difficult. In order to provide the type of information needed by 
fisheries managers, policymakers, the fishing sector, and other 
concerned parties, NMFS has agreed to sponsor or co-sponsor one or more 
international meetings, with the ultimate aim of producing (i) 
technical guidelines on how to define, measure and control fishing 
capacity, and on the causes, consequences, and cures for overcapacity, 
and (ii) a draft plan of action for consideration at the FAO 
Consultation. The exact objectives and terms of reference for the 
capacity TWG are still under discussion with FAO and Japan.
    The United States is the principal sponsor of a proposed TWG on 
Fishing Capacity, with FAO and Japan also contributing some funds. The 
TWG is tentatively scheduled to be held in La Jolla, CA, in early 1998. 
Followup meetings leading to a plan of action are likely to be co-
sponsored by the United States and Japan.
    NMFS Contact: regarding the TWG, Pamela Mace
    Ocean Fishery Resources Division
    National Marine Fisheries Service
    166 Water Street
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    508-495-2357
    regarding the FAO Consultation, Matteo Milazzo
    International Fisheries Division

[[Page 42767]]

    Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS
    1315 East-West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
    301-713-2276

Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries

    Tens of thousands of seabirds are being killed incidental to 
various commercial longline fisheries in the world. Some of the 
seabirds are species of management concern and populations of several 
other seabird species may be declining because of longline bycatches. 
Seabird bycatch also has an adverse impact on catch rates and 
profitability of fishing operations. Governments, nongovernmental 
organizations, and commercial fishery associations are petitioning for 
regulatory measures to reduce the mortality of seabirds in the world's 
longline fisheries.
    The goal for the Seabird TWG and the subsequent FAO Consultation is 
to produce an action plan to implement FAO guidelines on mitigating 
measures to reduce incidental catches of seabirds in longline 
fisheries. Japan and the U.S. will co-host the session, and the U.S. 
co-lead agencies are NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
    NMFS Contact: Kim Rivera
    National Marine Fisheries Service
    Fisheries Management Division
    P.O. Box 21668
    Juneau, AK 99802
    907-586-7228
    FWS Contact: Kent Wohl
    Migratory Bird Management
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    1011 East Tudor
    Anchorage, AK 99503
    907-783-3503

Shark Conservation and Management

    Global landings of sharks and related species have dramatically 
increased in recent years. Sharks are particularly vulnerable to 
overexploitation due to life history characteristics, particularly 
relatively low rates of reproduction. In addition, fishing mortality 
due to bycatch exceeds that due to directed fisheries. The expanding 
international market for shark fins, cartilage, meat, and skins is an 
important factor motivating recent increased mortality.
    An international consensus is emerging on the need for improved 
control of fishing effort on sharks and related species by both 
directed and bycatch fleets. The goal for the upcoming Shark TWG and 
subsequent FAO Consultation is to develop a global strategy (action 
plan) and guidelines for sustainable international and regional 
management of elasmobranch species by national, regional, and highly 
migratory management groups.
    The intent of the strategy is to provide an effective web of 
management regimes sufficient to arrest the declines of sharks, skates, 
and rays where they have occurred and to put the harvest of these 
species on a sustainable basis.
    NMFS Contact: Dean Swanson
    International Fisheries Division
    National Marine Fisheries Service
    1315 East-West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
    301-713-2276

    Dated: August 4, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20925 Filed 8-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F