[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24774-24775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11893]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 020498B]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Fisheries for Dolphin and Wahoo

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

ACTION: Request that NMFS designate the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council to prepare a fishery management plan (FMP) and 
subsequent FMP amendments (amendments) for dolphin and wahoo; reopening 
of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On March 9, 1998, NMFS published a notice in the Federal 
Register advising of and requesting comments on the request of the 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) to 
be designated by NMFS, under procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), as the Regional 
Fishery Management Council (Council) to prepare an FMP and amendments 
for the fisheries for dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus, and wahoo, 
Acanthocybium solanderi, throughout their range in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico 
and Caribbean Sea. NMFS is reopening the public comment period to 
afford the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) and 
other members of the public more time to consider the South Atlantic 
Council's proposal.

DATES: The comment period reopens May 5, 1998; comments must be 
submitted by June 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to Dr. Andrew J. Kemmerer, 
Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center 
Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Godcharles, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the request of the Gulf Council, NMFS 
reopens the public comment period and requests comments on the South 
Atlantic Council's request to be designated by NMFS, under Magnuson-
Stevens Act procedures, as the Council to prepare an FMP and amendments 
for the fisheries for dolphin and wahoo throughout their range in the 
EEZ of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean 
Sea. A notice previously published in the Federal Register (63 FR 
11422, March 9, 1998) described the details of the South Atlantic 
Council's request and requested comments on that proposal through April 
8, 1998. The Gulf Council has requested more time to more fully 
consider the issues and impacts of the proposal at its meeting during 
the week of May 11-15, 1998, in Destin, Florida. Reopening the public 
comment period will allow the Gulf Council the requested time to 
consider, develop, and submit to NMFS more specific and extensive 
comments on the proposal. By publishing this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS also affords other concerned or potentially impacted 
entities further opportunity for comment.
    NMFS again requests public comments on the South Atlantic Council's 
proposal to be designated as the Council to prepare a new FMP to manage 
dolphin and wahoo throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Written comments 
received from both this and the previous notice will be reviewed and 
considered prior to NMFS' decision on this request.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


[[Page 24775]]


    Dated: April 28, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11893 Filed 5-4-98; 8:45 am]
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