[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 24248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10162]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD879
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding annual renewal.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant
Administrator) has issued an affirmative finding annual renewal for the
Government of Guatemala under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
This affirmative finding annual renewal 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 Guatemalan-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels
operating under Guatemalan jurisdiction to be imported into the United
States. The affirmative finding annual renewal was based on review of
documentary evidence submitted by the Government of Guatemala and
obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
DATES: The affirmative finding annual renewal is effective from April
1, 2014, through March 31, 2015.
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 for
importation 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 a new affirmative finding and submit the required
documentary evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an
annual basis, NMFS reviews the affirmative finding and determines
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 Guatemala and obtained from the IATTC
and has determined that Guatemala has met the MMPA's requirements to
receive an affirmative finding annual renewal.
After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant
Administrator issued an affirmative finding annual renewal to
Guatemala, allowing the continued importation into the United States of
yellowfin tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in
the ETP by Guatemalan-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels
operating under Guatemalan jurisdiction through March 31, 2015.
Guatemala's 5-year affirmative finding will remain valid through March
31, 2015.
Dated: April 24, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-10162 Filed 4-29-15; 8:45 am]
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