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DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-AH89

Publication ID: Spring 1996

Title: Identification of Special Sea Turtle Conservation Areas and Appropriate Conservation Measures
Abstract: NMFS proposes to amend the regulations protecting sea turtles (50 CFR parts 217 and 227, subpart D) to enhance their effectiveness in reducing sea turtle mortality resulting from shrimp trawling in the Atlantic and Gulf areas. Proposed amendments to strengthen the sea turtle conservation measures are: (1) Eliminate by December 31, 1996, the use of soft turtle excluder devices (TEDs) which have demonstrated reduced effectiveness under actual commercial fishing conditions; (2) require by December 31, 1996, the use of TEDs in try nets with a headrope length greater than 12 ft (3.6m) or a footrope length greater than 15 ft (4.6m); (3) establish Shrimp Fishery Sea Turtle Conservation Areas (SFSTCAs) in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic area consisting of the offshore waters out to 10 nautical miles (nm)(18.5km) along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas from the Mississippi River South Pass to the U.S.-Mexico border, and along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina from the Georgia-Florida border to the North Carolina-South Carolina border; (4) implement the TED requirements of items (1) and (2) and prohibit the use of bottom-opening hard TEDs in the two SFSTCAs when a final rule becomes effective; (5) reduce nearshore
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 227 50 CFR 217 50 CFR 222
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1531 et seq

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
ANPRM	09/13/1995	60 FR 47544
ANPRM Comment Period End	11/13/1995
NPRM	04/00/1996
Final Action	06/00/1996
Final Action Effective	07/00/1996

Additional Information: ABSTRACT CONTINUED: shrimp trawling effort by prohibiting fishing in the Texas portion of the Gulf SFSTCA for a time period approximately 3 weeks prior to and 3 weeks after the Texas Gulf shrimp fishery closure by shrimp trawlers greater than 60 ft (18.3m) in length and by shrimp trawlers with a total headrope length among all nets rigged for fishing greater than 100 ft (30.5m)
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined	Government Levels Affected: Undetermined
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
Agency Contact: Dr. Russell J. Bellmer Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone:301 713-1401