National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 5, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The NMFS Assistant Administrator (Assistant Administrator) has completed an affirmative finding annual renewal for the Governments of Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain (referred to hereafter as "The Nations") under the portions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) related to the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) tuna purse seine fishery and the importation of yellowfin tuna from nations participating in this fishery. These affirmative findings will continue to allow the importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna products harvested in the ETP for 1 year, in compliance with the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP), by purse seine vessels operating under The Nations' jurisdiction or exported from The Nations. NMFS bases the affirmative finding annual renewals on reviews of documentary evidence submitted by the Governments of The Nations and of information obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

We, NMFS, are delaying the effective date of terminal gear requirements that amend the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (PLTRP) regulations in a final rule that published on June 6, 2023.