[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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P