Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Tuna Purse Seine Vessels in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP)

NMFS proposes regulations to implement provisions of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act (IDCPA). These regulations would allow the entry of yellowfin tuna into the United States under certain conditions from nations signatory to the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) that otherwise would be under embargo. It would also allow U.S. fishing vessels to participate in the fishery in the ETP on equivalent terms with the flag vessels of other IDCP signatory nations. A U.S. citizen employed on a purse seine vessel of another IDCP signatory nation with an affirmative finding would not be in violation of U.S. prohibitions on the taking of marine mammals if that vessel takes marine mammals incidentally during fishing operations outside the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in compliance with the requirements of the IDCP. The standard for use of ``dolphin-safe'' labels for tuna products would also change. General requirements also are proposed to ensure adequate tracking and verification of tuna imports from the ETP.