View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML
DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-AY61 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: Reduce Sea Turtle Bycatch in Atlantic Trawl Fisheries 
Abstract: NMFS is initiating a rulemaking action to reduce injury and mortality to endangered and threatened sea turtles resulting from incidental take, or bycatch, in trawl fisheries in the Atlantic waters. NMFS will likely address the size of the turtle excluder device (TED) escape opening currently required in the summer flounder trawl fishery, the definition of a summer flounder trawler, and the use of TEDs in this fishery; the use of TEDs in the croaker and weakfish flynet, whelk, Atlantic sea scallop, and calico scallop trawl fisheries of the Atlantic Ocean; and new seasonal and temporal boundaries for TED requirements. In addition, this rule will address the definition of the Gulf Area applicable to the shrimp trawl fishery in the southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the rule is to aid in the protection and recovery of listed sea turtle populations by reducing mortality in trawl fisheries through the use of TEDs. 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 200   
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1531 et seq   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  07/00/2011    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: Federal, State 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions, Organizations  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Alexis Gutierrez
Foreign Affairs Specialist
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone:301 713-2322
Fax:301 713-4060
Email: alexis.gutierrez@noaa.gov