# Draft Code of Conduct for Responsible Aquaculture in the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zone
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Reopening of comment period; schedule change.
**SUMMARY:**
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the reopening of the public comment period on a draft Code of Conduct for Responsible Aquaculture in the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zone (Code of Conduct). NMFS also announces a schedule change for the publication of a final Code of Conduct.
**DATES:**
NMFS will accept written comments on the draft Code of Conduct at the appropriate address or fax number until 5 p.m. on October 31, 2002.
**ADDRESSES:**
The draft Code of Conduct and the *Federal Register* Notice dated August 23, 2002 announcing its availability for public comment (67 FR 54644) are available on the NMFS Web site: *www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture.htm* . These documents will also be provided in hard copy upon request ( *see**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT* ). Comments on the Code of Conduct may be sent to Colin Nash, NMFS/WASC, P.O. Box 130, Manchester, WA 98353 or by fax to 206-842-8364. Comments may also be hand-delivered during business hours to: NMFS Manchester Research Station, 7305 Beach Drive East, Port Orchard, WA 98366-8204. Comments will not be accepted via telephone, e-mail, or internet.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Susan Bunsick, 301-713-2334 Extension 102, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. You may also fax your request to 301-713-0596 or send an e-mail to: *[email protected]* . Comments on the Code of Conduct will not be accepted at these contact points.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
The draft Code of Conduct was released for public comment via *Federal Register* notice dated August 23, 2002 (67 FR 54644), with a 30-day comment period. NMFS is extending the comment period in response to numerous requests from the public indicating that a 30-day comment period does not allow sufficient time for stakeholders to provide their input into the preparation of the final document. The previous *Federal Register* notice provided a tentative time frame for the production of a Code of Conduct. To accommodate the longer comment period, the time frame for production of a final Code of Conduct has been revised as provided here.
**Time Frame**
August 23, 2002: Release draft Code of Conduct for public comment via posting of the document on the NMFS Web site ( *www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture.htm* ). The document will also be provided in hard copy upon request ( *see**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT* ).
October 31, 2002: Public comment period on draft Code of Conduct ends.December 2002: Release final Code of Conduct via a *Federal Register* notice of availability and posting on the NMFS Web site ( *www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture.htm* ). The document will also be provided in hard copy upon request ( *see**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT* ).
Dated: September 27, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.