Sea Turtle Conservation; Shrimp Trawling Requirements

NMFS notifies fishermen that it has renewed the authorization for shrimp trawlers to use limited tow times as an alternative to the otherwise required use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in the inshore waters of Mississippi. Its previous authorization expired on November 23, 1998. NMFS also has extended the same authorization in Alabama inshore waters which otherwise would expire December 1, 1998 (63 FR 62959, November 10, 1998). The intent of this action is to provide adequate protection for threatened and endangered sea turtles when debris conditions may make TED-use impracticable. DATES: The renewal and the extention are both effective from November 30, 1998 through December 30, 1998. Comments on this notification are requested and must be received by December 30, 1998.