Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud, 44404-44405 [2014-18024]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 2014 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD402
Presidential Task Force on Combating
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
Fishing and Seafood Fraud
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings;
request for comments.
AGENCY:
On June 17, 2014, the White
House released a Presidential
Memorandum entitled ‘‘Establishing a
Comprehensive Framework to Combat
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated
Fishing and Seafood Fraud.’’ Among
other actions, the Memorandum
established a Presidential Task Force on
Combating Illegal, Unreported, and
Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud
(Task Force), co-chaired by the
Departments of State and Commerce
and made up of a broad range of other
federal agencies. The Task Force is
directed to report to the President
within 180 days with
‘‘recommendations for the
implementation of a comprehensive
framework of integrated programs to
combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud
that emphasizes areas of greatest need.’’
The public meetings and request for
comments initiates a public engagement
process aimed at gaining broad input
and expertise from key stakeholders and
interest groups to inform and advise the
Task Force in developing
recommendations in compliance with
the Memorandum.
DATES: Comments must be received by
September 2, 2014. The public meetings
will be held in August. For specific
dates, times, format or location, see
‘‘Public Meetings’’ under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–0214–0090, by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20140090, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to
Laurel Bryant, 1315 East-West Hwy.,
Rm. 14556, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:56 Jul 30, 2014
Jkt 232001
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered by the Federal Task Force.
All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be
posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential
business information, or otherwise
sensitive information submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. The Task Force will
accept anonymous comments (enter
‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish
to remain anonymous). Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurel Bryant, Chief for External Affairs,
Office of Communications, National
Marine Fisheries Service, 301–427–
8032.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The United States is a global leader in
sustainable seafood. Over the course of
the last 6 years, the United States has
largely ended overfishing in federally
managed waters and successfully rebuilt
a record number of overfished stocks,
with both overfishing and overfished
fish stocks at all-time lows. This level of
effective management and enforcement
of domestic fishing regulations has
supported near record highs in both
landings and revenue for our domestic
fishing industries. As a result, the
United States scheme of science-based
fisheries management is recognized
internationally as a model for other
countries as they work to end
overfishing and implement sustainable
practices.
However, fisheries are a global
resource, and achieving sustainable
fisheries management requires strong
international commitment. One of the
biggest global threats to sustainable
fisheries is illegal, unreported, and
unregulated (IUU) fishing. Impacts of
IUU fishing undermine the
environmental and economic
sustainability of fisheries both
domestically and abroad. By
circumventing conservation and
management measures and cutting or
avoiding the operational costs
associated with sustainable fishing
practices and harvesting levels, entities
engaged in IUU fishing undermine the
sustainability of fish stocks and the
broader ecosystem, and create an unfair
advantage in the marketplace over
legitimate fishing operations and legally
caught seafood. Global losses
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
attributable to IUU fishing have been
estimated to be $10–23 billion annually.
And while it is difficult to know the
extent of seafood fraud, some surveys
have found notable levels of mislabeling
in retail operations across the U.S. The
occurrence of seafood fraud through
species substitution threatens consumer
confidence, serving to further
undermine the reputation and market
competitiveness of our domestic seafood
industry.
It is in the national interest of the
United States to promote a framework
that supports sustainable fishing
practices and combats the sale of IUU
fishing products and seafood fraud. To
achieve these objectives, the United
States will need to enhance the tools it
has available to combat IUU fishing and
seafood fraud. The Task Force has been
established to achieve these objectives.
These public meetings initiate the
process for informing and advising the
Task Force on identifying the priorities
and opportunities to accomplish these
objectives. The meetings are intended as
listening sessions for the Task Force to
hear from and engage with the public,
and the communities of stakeholders
and interest groups involved with these
issues. For more information related to
the Task Force and these issues, go to:
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/iuu/iuu_
overview.html.
II. Topics for Comment and Discussion
Comment is particularly sought in
response to the following questions:
1. How can the government better
coordinate its efforts across the full suite
of activities related to the seafood
supply chain?
2. What existing authorities and tools
should be enhanced to combat IUU
fishing and seafood fraud?
3. What are the key opportunities at
the international level to address these
issues through the regional fishery
management organizations and bilateral
efforts, such as technical assistance and
capacity building?
4. What existing authorities should be
better coordinated or streamlined to
strengthen and harmonize enforcement
provisions of U.S. statutes for
implementing international fisheries
agreements?
5. What existing authorities should be
better coordinated or streamlined to
strengthen and harmonize efforts
between agencies, including Federal,
State and local?
6. What opportunities are there,
whether existing or new, to work with
industry and other partners, including
foreign partners, to develop and
implement measures such as traceability
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 2014 / Notices
programs to combat IUU fishing and
seafood fraud?
7. How prevalent are mislabeling and
species substitution within the domestic
and foreign seafood supply in general?
Where in the seafood supply chain is
species substitution most likely to
occur, and what role or actions can the
federal government provide or enhance
to address it?
8. To what extent is the comingling of
seafood products from different origins
an issue? Where along the supply chain
does it occur?
9. What specific actions need to be
taken to improve the transparency and
traceability of seafood in the supply
chain?
10. What are the actions and issues
the Task Force should prioritize in
developing its recommendations for
addressing IUU fishing? What about
seafood fraud?
11. What other topics related to IUU
fishing and seafood fraud should the
Task Force be aware of in developing
and prioritizing recommendations?
III. Public Meetings
• August 13, 2014, 3–5 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time—Webinar/Conference
Call, Conference Call Number: 888–324–
0793, passcode: IUU Fishing.
• August 20, 2014, 3–5 p.m. Pacific
Daylight Time—In-person meeting,
Mayflower Park Hotel, 405 Olive Way,
Seattle, Washington.
• August 27, 2014, 3–5 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time—Webinar/Conference
Call, Conference Call Number: 888–324–
0793, passcode: IUU Fishing.
• August 28, 2014, 1–3 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time—In-person meeting,
Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill,
525 New Jersey Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20001.
Special Accommodations
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Samantha (Sam)
Guidon, 301–427–8532 or email
Samantha.guidon@noaa.gov at least 5
days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: July 28, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–18024 Filed 7–29–14; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:56 Jul 30, 2014
Jkt 232001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 140710572–4572–01]
Privacy Act of 1974: System of
Records
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Amendment
to Privacy Act System of Records:
‘‘COMMERCE/NOAA–15, Alaska
Region—North Pacific Groundfish
Observer Program: Certified Domestic
Observer Final Evaluations.’’
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the
Department of Commerce proposes to
amend the system of records entitled
‘‘COMMERCE/NOAA–15, Alaska
Region—North Pacific Groundfish
Observer Program: Certified Domestic
Observer Final Evaluations’’ to expand
the number and types of evaluations,
which will be used to identify the
observers; provide input on observer
evaluations; change the name of the
system of records to ‘‘COMMERCE/
NOAA–15, Monitoring of National
Marine Fisheries Service Observers;’’
update routine uses; and generally
update the system’s notice. We invite
public comment on the amended system
announced in this publication.
DATES: To be considered, written
comments must be submitted on or
before September 2, 2014. Unless
comments are received, the amended
system of records will become effective
as proposed on the date of publication
of a subsequent notice in the Federal
Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee
Benaka at (301) 427–8554.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to
Lee Benaka, National Marine Fisheries
Service (F/ST4), 1315 East West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Email comments may be submitted to
Observers.PrivacyAct@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Privacy Act of
1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)
and (11), the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) proposes this
amendment is to expand the amount of
information NMFS maintains on its
observers. Specifically, NMFS proposes
to expand the number of observer
evaluations and the type of observer
evaluations collected, and will store
these evaluations with other observer
personal records, which will be used to
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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44405
identify the observers; provide input on
observer evaluations; and change the
title of the system of records to better
reflect the scope of the system of
records. To implement these
amendments, NMFS proposes to change
the name of the system of records from
‘‘COMMERCE/NOAA–15, Alaska
Region—North Pacific Groundfish
Observer Program: Certified Domestic
Observer Final Evaluations’’ to
‘‘COMMERCE/NOAA–15, Monitoring of
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) Observers’’; amend certain
provisions concerning the purpose of
the system of records; update categories
of individuals and records covered by
the system; update the routine uses of
the system; change procedures
governing retrieval, storage, retention,
disposal, and safeguards of the records
in the system; and make other minor
administrative updates.
NMFS deploys fishery observers to
collect catch and bycatch data from U.S.
commercial fishing and processing
vessels. The authority to place observers
on commercial fishing and processing
vessels operating in U.S. fisheries is
provided by the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act,
and the Endangered Species Act. These
acts require the government to collect
data on activities which affect marine
resources. NMFS certifies, permits, and
hires observers via observer provider
companies, in order to place observers
aboard U.S. commercial fishing and
processing vessels. NMFS handles all
observer-collected fisheries data and
instructs and debriefs observers. Highquality data are essential to the
successful management of these
fisheries, and therefore, NMFS is
creating a system of records to monitor
the performance of observers. Through
the routine use provision of the Privacy
Act, NMFS will be sharing individual
observer performance evaluations with
each observer’s employer (observer
provider). This will enable observer
providers to hire the best performing
observers, which in turn helps to ensure
that the highest-quality observer data
will be collected.
NMFS created a system of records in
October, 2001, to monitor the
performance of observers in the Alaska
region. Since that time, NMFS has made
several changes to observer programs
nationwide, which requires additional
personal information to be collected and
maintained by each of the regional
observer programs. First, NMFS
changed the qualifications and
educational requirements for observer
applicants in order to improve the
caliber and suitability of applicants.
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44404-44405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18024]
[[Page 44404]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD402
Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported and
Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On June 17, 2014, the White House released a Presidential
Memorandum entitled ``Establishing a Comprehensive Framework to Combat
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud.'' Among
other actions, the Memorandum established a Presidential Task Force on
Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood
Fraud (Task Force), co-chaired by the Departments of State and Commerce
and made up of a broad range of other federal agencies. The Task Force
is directed to report to the President within 180 days with
``recommendations for the implementation of a comprehensive framework
of integrated programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud that
emphasizes areas of greatest need.'' The public meetings and request
for comments initiates a public engagement process aimed at gaining
broad input and expertise from key stakeholders and interest groups to
inform and advise the Task Force in developing recommendations in
compliance with the Memorandum.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 2, 2014. The public
meetings will be held in August. For specific dates, times, format or
location, see ``Public Meetings'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-0214-0090, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0090, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Laurel Bryant, 1315 East-West
Hwy., Rm. 14556, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by the Federal Task Force. All comments received
are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. The Task Force will accept
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted
in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurel Bryant, Chief for External
Affairs, Office of Communications, National Marine Fisheries Service,
301-427-8032.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The United States is a global leader in sustainable seafood. Over
the course of the last 6 years, the United States has largely ended
overfishing in federally managed waters and successfully rebuilt a
record number of overfished stocks, with both overfishing and
overfished fish stocks at all-time lows. This level of effective
management and enforcement of domestic fishing regulations has
supported near record highs in both landings and revenue for our
domestic fishing industries. As a result, the United States scheme of
science-based fisheries management is recognized internationally as a
model for other countries as they work to end overfishing and implement
sustainable practices.
However, fisheries are a global resource, and achieving sustainable
fisheries management requires strong international commitment. One of
the biggest global threats to sustainable fisheries is illegal,
unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Impacts of IUU fishing
undermine the environmental and economic sustainability of fisheries
both domestically and abroad. By circumventing conservation and
management measures and cutting or avoiding the operational costs
associated with sustainable fishing practices and harvesting levels,
entities engaged in IUU fishing undermine the sustainability of fish
stocks and the broader ecosystem, and create an unfair advantage in the
marketplace over legitimate fishing operations and legally caught
seafood. Global losses attributable to IUU fishing have been estimated
to be $10-23 billion annually. And while it is difficult to know the
extent of seafood fraud, some surveys have found notable levels of
mislabeling in retail operations across the U.S. The occurrence of
seafood fraud through species substitution threatens consumer
confidence, serving to further undermine the reputation and market
competitiveness of our domestic seafood industry.
It is in the national interest of the United States to promote a
framework that supports sustainable fishing practices and combats the
sale of IUU fishing products and seafood fraud. To achieve these
objectives, the United States will need to enhance the tools it has
available to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud. The Task Force has
been established to achieve these objectives. These public meetings
initiate the process for informing and advising the Task Force on
identifying the priorities and opportunities to accomplish these
objectives. The meetings are intended as listening sessions for the
Task Force to hear from and engage with the public, and the communities
of stakeholders and interest groups involved with these issues. For
more information related to the Task Force and these issues, go to:
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/iuu/iuu_overview.html.
II. Topics for Comment and Discussion
Comment is particularly sought in response to the following
questions:
1. How can the government better coordinate its efforts across the
full suite of activities related to the seafood supply chain?
2. What existing authorities and tools should be enhanced to combat
IUU fishing and seafood fraud?
3. What are the key opportunities at the international level to
address these issues through the regional fishery management
organizations and bilateral efforts, such as technical assistance and
capacity building?
4. What existing authorities should be better coordinated or
streamlined to strengthen and harmonize enforcement provisions of U.S.
statutes for implementing international fisheries agreements?
5. What existing authorities should be better coordinated or
streamlined to strengthen and harmonize efforts between agencies,
including Federal, State and local?
6. What opportunities are there, whether existing or new, to work
with industry and other partners, including foreign partners, to
develop and implement measures such as traceability
[[Page 44405]]
programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud?
7. How prevalent are mislabeling and species substitution within
the domestic and foreign seafood supply in general? Where in the
seafood supply chain is species substitution most likely to occur, and
what role or actions can the federal government provide or enhance to
address it?
8. To what extent is the comingling of seafood products from
different origins an issue? Where along the supply chain does it occur?
9. What specific actions need to be taken to improve the
transparency and traceability of seafood in the supply chain?
10. What are the actions and issues the Task Force should
prioritize in developing its recommendations for addressing IUU
fishing? What about seafood fraud?
11. What other topics related to IUU fishing and seafood fraud
should the Task Force be aware of in developing and prioritizing
recommendations?
III. Public Meetings
August 13, 2014, 3-5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time--Webinar/
Conference Call, Conference Call Number: 888-324-0793, passcode: IUU
Fishing.
August 20, 2014, 3-5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time--In-person
meeting, Mayflower Park Hotel, 405 Olive Way, Seattle, Washington.
August 27, 2014, 3-5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time--Webinar/
Conference Call, Conference Call Number: 888-324-0793, passcode: IUU
Fishing.
August 28, 2014, 1-3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time--In-person
meeting, Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill, 525 New Jersey Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20001.
Special Accommodations
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Samantha (Sam) Guidon, 301-427-8532 or email
Samantha.guidon@noaa.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: July 28, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18024 Filed 7-29-14; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
