Seeking Comments on National Standard 10 Guidelines:
the primary source of NMFS guidance for the consideration of safety issues in fishery management

On April 21, 2011, NMFS published in the Federal Register an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the National Standard 10 Guidelines and is requesting public comment on potential adjustments to the Guidelines (76 FR 22342; 4/21/11). National Standard 10 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act states “Conservation and management measures shall, to the extent practicable, promote the safety of human life at sea.” The National Standard 10 Guidelines are the primary source of NMFS guidance for the consideration of safety issues in fishery management.

The current National Standard 10 Guidelines were published in 1998. Fishery management and fishing vessel safety science have changed and improved in recent years. NOAA Fisheries Service believes it is appropriate and timely to revise the National Standard 10 Guidelines and is seeking public comment on potential revisions to the guidelines. Through the revision of the Guidelines, NOAA’s Fisheries Service intends to enhance consideration of safety issues in fisheries management. Upon consideration of public input that NOAA receives during this comment period, the agency will propose revisions to the National Standard 10 Guidelines, and then will hold another public comment period.

A public meeting will be held May 19th, 2011, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the NOAA Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD. NOAA Fisheries Service may hold additional public meetings at other locations around the country during the comment period and will announce those meetings in the Federal Register. Written comments and information concerning the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking must be received by July 20, 2011. You may submit comments by any one of the following methods:

• via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, using the identifier “0648-BA74”; or
• faxed to 301-713-1193, Attention Debra Lambert; or
• submitted by mail to Debra Lambert, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13403, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Additional information about the National Standard 10 guidelines can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/index.htm