[Coral-List] Request for Public Comment on the Draft NOAA Deep Sea Coral and Sponge Strategic Plan

[Tom Hourigan]

Dear Coral List:

On October 17th, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) published a federal register notice to announce the availability 
of the /Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management 
Strategic Plan/ for a 90-day public comment period. Prepared under the 
auspices of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program and in consultation 
with the Nation's eight Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Draft 
NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management Strategic Plan 
identifies objectives, priorities and approaches that will guide NOAA's 
research, management, and international activities from Fiscal Year 2009 
through 2013 as they relate to deep coral and sponge ecosystems. The 
/Draft NOAA Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research and Management Strategic 
Plan/ will be available at the following location:  
http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/Library/Publications/deepcstratplan.pdf 
 for a period of 90-days from the date of publication of the Federal 
Register Notice.  The Federal Register Notice, which includes 
instructions on submitting comments, is available at: 
http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/Library/Publications/dscplanfrn.pdf 
<http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/Library/Publications/dscplanFRN.pdf>.

Tom Hourigan
Kimberly Puglise
Co-Chairs, NOAA Deep-Sea Coral Working Group