Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting, 52881 [2017-24720]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices
From 2005–2016, NMFS issued three
permits authorizing the retention of
releasable marine mammals
(rehabilitated animals cleared for release
back to the wild) for public display
purposes under section 104 of the
MMPA and NMFS’ implementing
regulations at 50 CFR part 216. A permit
was required for placement of releasable
stranded animals (as opposed to nonreleasable animals, which NMFS places
in accordance with an administrative
process rather than a permit) because
NMFS views retention of a releasable
marine mammal as the functional
equivalent of a take from the wild (i.e.,
the animal would have otherwise been
released and would presumably have
contributed to the wild population).
These three permits were based upon
NMFS’ interpretation of the regulations
at 50 CFR 216.27(b)(4), which state the
NMFS OPR Director may require use of
a rehabilitated marine mammal for
public display purposes in lieu of
animals taken from the wild. The three
previous permit applicants were not
required to request an actual ‘‘take’’ of
animals from the wild, as the placement
of a releasable animal was considered in
lieu of such take.
However, NMFS received numerous
public comments on the three issued
permits asserting that permits to retain
releasable marine mammals are in direct
contradiction to the purpose of Title IV
and section 109(h) of the MMPA, which
mandate the rescue and rehabilitation of
stranded marine mammals with the goal
of releasing the animals to the wild
when feasible. Commenters specifically
expressed concerns that the process for
assessing the actual impact of a take
from the wild was largely circumvented.
After evaluation and reconsideration
of this permit process and as a result of
public comments on the three permits
issued, NMFS has developed a new
draft Procedural Directive to clarify its
interpretation of MMPA regulations and
procedures for authorizing releasable
rehabilitated marine mammals to be
retained for purposes of public display.
In the Procedural Directive, NMFS is
proposing to no longer issue permits for
the specific purpose of obtaining
releasable marine mammals from the
National Stranding Network for public
display. Instead, would-be applicants
must apply for a permit to take (collect)
from the wild pursuant to the MMPA.
In the event NMFS decides to grant such
a permit, the NMFS OPR Director may
then, at his or her discretion, require
that a releasable rehabilitated marine
mammal be substituted for capturing an
animal from the wild, in accordance
with 50 CFR 216.27.
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19:58 Nov 14, 2017
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NMFS believes this approach is more
consistent with the statutory provisions
governing rehabilitation and release of
stranded marine mammals (MMPA
section 109(h) and MMPA Title IV),
which are separate and distinct from the
provisions governing issuance of
permits for the take of animals from the
wild for purposes of public display
(MMPA section 104).
Dated: November 6, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–24642 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
52881
Matters To Be Considered
This meeting time and agenda are
subject to change.
The meeting is convened to hear
presentations and updates and to
discuss policies and guidance on the
following topics: The importance of
timely data for fisheries resiliency;
Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force
efforts on the conservation and
restoration of salmon and steelhead;
aquaculture; citizen science; NMFS
communications, outreach, and
FishWatch; and the budget outlook for
FY2018. MAFAC will discuss various
administrative and organizational
matters, and meetings of subcommittees
and working groups will be convened.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Special Accommodations
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
The meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Heidi Lovett; 301–427–8034 by
November 15, 2017.
RIN 0648–XF772
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open public meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
proposed schedule and agenda of a
forthcoming meeting of the Marine
Fisheries Advisory Committee
(MAFAC). The members will discuss
and provide advice on issues outlined
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
below.
Dated: November 9, 2017.
Jennifer Lukens,
Director for the Office of Policy, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–24720 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
SUMMARY:
The meeting will be held
November 28 and 29, 2017, from 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m., and November 30, from
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, 8777
Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910;
301–589–0800.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heidi Lovett, MAFAC Assistant
Director; 301–427–8034; email:
Heidi.Lovett@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
required by section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. 2, notice is hereby given of
a meeting of MAFAC. The MAFAC was
established by the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary), and, since 1971,
advises the Secretary on all living
marine resource matters that are the
responsibility of the Department of
Commerce. The complete charter and
summaries of prior meetings are located
online at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
ocs/mafac/.
DATES:
PO 00000
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF773
Meeting of the Columbia Basin
Partnership Task Force of the Marine
Fisheries Advisory Committee
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open public meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
proposed schedule and agenda of a
forthcoming meeting of the Marine
Fisheries Advisory Committee’s
(MAFAC’s) Columbia Basin Partnership
Task Force (CBP Task Force). The CBP
Task Force will discuss the issues
outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION below.
DATES: The meeting will be held
December 5, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and on December 6, 2017, from 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333
Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA
99201; 509–458–3330.
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 52881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24720]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF772
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a
forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC).
The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
DATES: The meeting will be held November 28 and 29, 2017, from 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m., and November 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Silver Spring
Hotel, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301-589-0800.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Lovett, MAFAC Assistant
Director; 301-427-8034; email: Heidi.Lovett@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, notice is hereby given
of a meeting of MAFAC. The MAFAC was established by the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary), and, since 1971, advises the Secretary on all
living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the
Department of Commerce. The complete charter and summaries of prior
meetings are located online at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/.
Matters To Be Considered
This meeting time and agenda are subject to change.
The meeting is convened to hear presentations and updates and to
discuss policies and guidance on the following topics: The importance
of timely data for fisheries resiliency; Columbia Basin Partnership
Task Force efforts on the conservation and restoration of salmon and
steelhead; aquaculture; citizen science; NMFS communications, outreach,
and FishWatch; and the budget outlook for FY2018. MAFAC will discuss
various administrative and organizational matters, and meetings of
subcommittees and working groups will be convened.
Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Heidi Lovett; 301-427-8034 by November 15, 2017.
Dated: November 9, 2017.
Jennifer Lukens,
Director for the Office of Policy, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24720 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
