[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6178-6179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02172]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD088
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; new 5-year affirmative finding.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant
Administrator) has issued a new 5-year affirmative finding for the
Government of El Salvador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA). This affirmative finding will allow yellowfin tuna and
yellowfin tuna products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
(ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program
(IDCP) by Salvadoran-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels
operating under Salvadoran jurisdiction to be imported into the United
States. The affirmative finding was based on review of documentary
evidence submitted by the Government of El Salvador and obtained from
the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the U.S.
Department of State.
DATES: The new 5-year affirmative finding is effective from April 1,
2013, through March 31, 2018.
[[Page 6179]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Greenman, West Coast Region,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA
90802. Phone: 562-980-3264 Email: [email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows the
entry into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine
vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested by the
harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine whether
to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence provided
by the government of the harvesting nation, the IATTC, or the
Department of State.
The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation
is meeting its obligations under the IDCP and obligations of membership
in the IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of the harvesting nation
must request an affirmative finding and submit the required documentary
evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an annual basis,
NMFS reviews the affirmative finding and determine whether the
harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A nation may
provide information related to compliance with IDCP and IATTC measures
directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the IATTC to
release the information to NMFS to annually renew an affirmative
finding determination without an application from the harvesting
nation.
An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the
requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a
nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on
violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the IDCP.
As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR
216.24(f), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary evidence
submitted by the Government of El Salvador or obtained from the IATTC
and the Department of State and has determined that El Salvador has met
the MMPA's requirements to receive a new 5-year affirmative finding.
After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant
Administrator issued El Salvador's new 5-year affirmative finding,
allowing the continued importation into the United States of yellowfin
tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP by
Salvadoran-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating
under Salvadoran jurisdiction. El Salvador's affirmative finding will
remain valid through March 31, 2018.
Dated: January 24, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, performing the
functions and duties of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 2014-02172 Filed 1-31-14; 8:45 am]
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