NMFS to Delay Identification of Nations Whose Vessels Catch Sharks
The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a notice, effective December 21, 2011, which states that it proposes1 to only begin on January 4, 2012 the process of making identifications of nations whose vessels are engaged in fishing in waters beyond any national jurisdiction that target or incidentally catch sharks and to publish the first identifications in the January 2013 Biennial Report to Congress.
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Delay Will Give Countries More Time to Learn U.S. Shark Provisions & Take Action
NMFS had anticipated making its first such identifications of nations by January 4, 2012, but upon further reflection and review of the statute, NMFS proposes1 to begin the process of making identifications by January 4, 2012 and to publish the first identifications in 2013, coincident with the next identification process under the illegal, unreported, and inregulated (IUU) fishing and bycatch provisions of the Moratorium Protection Act. According to NMFS, if identifications were made in January 2012, it would provide potentially-affected foreign nations only one year to become familiar with the new shark provisions before identification decisions were made and only one year to take the necessary actions to receive a positive certification.
1Though NMFS uses the term “proposes,” the notice has a December 21, 2011 effective date and does not seek comments.
(See ITT’s Online Archives 11032352 for summary of NMFS seeking information on nations whose vessels are engaged in fishing in waters beyond any national jurisdiction that target or incidentally catch sharks, including info. from fish importers.)
NMFS contact - Cheri McCarty (301) 427--8369
(FR Pub 12/21/11)