0648-BA66 201110 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Implement Recommendations Adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission NMFS proposes regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement decisions of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). At its 81st meeting, in September 2010, the IATTC adopted the following three recommendations: (1) Recommendation on Tuna Conservation 2011-2013 (C-10-01); (2) Recommendation on Seabirds (C-10-02); and (3) Recommendation Prohibiting Fishing on Data Buoys (C-10-03). The United States already has domestic seabird conservation measures in place for U.S. longline fisheries that operate in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) that satisfy the requirements under Recommendation C-10-02. Thus, this rule would implement IATTC Recommendations C-10-01 and C-10-03. This rule would amend current tuna conservation measures in the longline and purse seine fisheries by (1) reducing the duration of the purse seine closure period in the EPO from 73 to 62 days in 2011 and continuing this purse seine closure period in 2012 and 2013; (2) allowing vessel owners to choose between two closure periods each year rather than requiring the entire U.S. fleet to adhere to one closure period; (3) continuing the 500 metric ton bigeye tuna quota for large-scale longline vessels for 2011-2013; (4) renewing the tuna retention program in the purse seine fishery; and (5) prohibiting tuna fishing vessels from fishing within 1 nautical mile of data buoys in the EPO. Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No 50 CFR 300 16 USC 951 to 961 16 USC 971 et seq No ANPRM 07/07/2011 76 FR 39808 ANPRM Comment Period End 07/27/2011 NPRM 01/00/2012 No No None No No Yes Heidi Hermsmeyer 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 562 980-4036 562 980-4047 heidi.hermsmeyer@noaa.gov 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach CA 90802