Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meetings, 20433-20434 [2024-06116]

Download as PDF 20433 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 2024 / Notices TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS—Continued Authorized take Species Short-finned pilot whale ................................................................................... Scaled take 1 77 23 Abundance 2 Percent abundance 1,981 1.1 1 Scalar ratios were applied to ‘‘Authorized Take’’ values as described at 86 FR 5322, 5404 (January 19, 2021) to derive scaled take numbers shown here. 2 Best abundance estimate. For most taxa, the best abundance estimate for purposes of comparison with take estimates is considered here to be the model-predicted abundance (Roberts et al., 2016). For those taxa where a density surface model predicting abundance by month was produced, the maximum mean seasonal abundance was used. For those taxa where abundance is not predicted by month, only mean annual abundance is available. For Rice’s whale and killer whale, the larger estimated SAR abundance estimate is used. 3 The final rule refers to the GOM Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). These whales were subsequently described as a new species, Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) (Rosel et al., 2021). 4 Includes 13 takes by Level A harassment and 138 takes by Level B harassment. Scalar ratio is applied to takes by Level B harassment only; small numbers determination made on basis of scaled Level B harassment take plus authorized Level A harassment take. 5 Modeled take of 21 increased to account for potential encounter with group of average size Maze-Foley and Mullin, 2006) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commission (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board. DATES: The meetings will be held Tuesday, April 9 through Thursday, April 11, 2024. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. ADDRESSES: This meeting will be an inperson meeting with a virtual option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person at The Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel or virtually via Webex webinar. Webinar connection instructions and briefing materials will be available at: https://www.mafmc.org/ briefing/april-2024. Meeting address: Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, 2 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331; www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 526–5255. The Council’s website, www.mafmc.org, also has details on the meeting location, proposed agenda, webinar listen-in access, and briefing materials. [RTID 0648–XD821] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on the analysis contained herein of Shell’s proposed survey activity described in its LOA application and the anticipated take of marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals will be taken relative to the affected species or stock sizes (i.e., less than one-third of the best available abundance estimate) and therefore the taking is of no more than small numbers. Authorization NMFS has determined that the level of taking for this LOA request is consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under the incidental take regulations and that the amount of take authorized under the LOA is of no more than small numbers. Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to Shell authorizing the take of marine mammals incidental to its geophysical survey activity, as described above. Dated: March 18, 2024. Kimberly Damon-Randall, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–06066 Filed 3–21–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings of the Council including a joint session with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:15 Mar 21, 2024 Jkt 262001 The following items are on the agenda, although agenda items may be addressed out of order (changes will be noted on the Council’s website when possible.) Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Proposed Rule To Update Regulations Associated With the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act’s Confidentiality Requirements— NOAA Fisheries Staff Presentation and opportunity for questions/feedback. PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Offshore Wind Fisheries Compensation Programs Summary of fishery information requirement for compensation eligibility. Data needs and challenges. Consider potential Council action. 2024 State of the Ecosystem Report—Dr. Sarah Gaichas, NEFSC Review and provide feedback. 2024 Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Risk Assessment Report Review draft report and provide feedback for further development. Habitat Activities Update—Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division Presentation on activities of interest (aquaculture, wind, and other projects) in the region. Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Joint MAFMC/NEFMC Framework To Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Interactions in the Monkfish/Dogfish Gillnet Fisheries: Final Action Review recommendations from the FMAT/PDT, Dogfish and Monkfish Advisory Panels, and joint Dogfish and Monkfish Committee. Review alternatives and impacts analyses. Select preferred alternatives and take final action. NTAP Progress Report for IndustryBased Survey Pilot Program Review and provide feedback. LUNCH Golden Tilefish Catch Share Program Review Review public comments received. Approve program review and submit to NOAA Fisheries. Review recommendations from the Oversight Team and discuss next steps. E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM 22MRN1 20434 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 2024 / Notices Golden Tilefish Assessment Overview— Pual Nitschke, NEFSC Overview of recently completed Research Track Stock Assessment. Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Marine Site Characterization Surveys off New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland Review research on impacts of sound and behavior of longfin squid and black sea bass. Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework Meeting #1 (With ASMFC SFSBSB Board) Review preliminary analysis and public input. Approve draft range of alternatives for further analysis. Thursday, April 11, 2024 Business Session Committee Reports (SSC); Executive Director’s Report; Organization Reports; and Liaison Reports. Other Business and General Public Comment Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c). Special Accommodations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 19, 2024. Diane M. DeJames-Daly, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:15 Mar 21, 2024 Jkt 262001 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD648] Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Construction Sounds on Behavior of Longfin Squid and Black Sea Bass— Aran Mooney, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution [FR Doc. 2024–06116 Filed 3–21–24; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization. AGENCY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys in waters off of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, including in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Areas OCS–A 0499, OCS–A 0541, OCS– A 0549, and associated export cable corridor (ECC) areas. DATES: This authorization is effective from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the application and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be obtained online at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ incidental-take-authorization-atlanticshores-offshore-wind-llcs-marine-site. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyssa Clevenstine, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of marine mammals, with certain exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are proposed or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed IHA is provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses (where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other ‘‘means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact’’ on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on the availability of the species or stocks for taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to in shorthand as ‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of the takings are set forth. The definitions of all applicable MMPA statutory terms cited above are included in the relevant sections below. Summary of Request August 31, 2023, NMFS received a request from Atlantic Shores for an IHA to take marine mammals incidental to conducting marine site characterization surveys in waters off of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, specifically within BOEM Lease Areas OCS–A 0499, OCS–A 0541, OCS–A 0549, and associated ECC areas. Following NMFS’ review of the application, Atlantic Shores submitted revised versions on October 11 and November 17, 2023. The application was deemed adequate and complete on November 20, 2023. Atlantic Shores’ request is for take of small numbers of 14 species (15 stocks) of marine mammals by Level B harassment. Neither Atlantic Shores nor NMFS expect serious injury or mortality to result from this activity and, therefore, an IHA is appropriate. NMFS previously issued IHAs to Atlantic Shores for similar work (85 FR 21198, April 16, 2020; 86 FR 21289, April 22, 2021; 87 FR 24103, April 20, 2022; 87 FR 50293, August 10, 2022; 88 FR 38821, June 9, 2023; 88 FR 54575, August 10, 2023). Atlantic Shores complied with all the requirements (e.g., mitigation, monitoring, and reporting) of the previous IHAs and did not exceed authorized levels of take under previous IHAs issued for surveys offshore of New York and New Jersey. These previous monitoring results are available to the E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM 22MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20433-20434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06116]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD821]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold public meetings of the Council including a joint session with the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, 
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board.

DATES: The meetings will be held Tuesday, April 9 through Thursday, 
April 11, 2024. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be an in-person meeting with a virtual 
option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the 
public will have the option to participate in person at The Sheraton 
Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel or virtually via Webex webinar. 
Webinar connection instructions and briefing materials will be 
available at: https://www.mafmc.org/briefing/april-2024.
    Meeting address: Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, 2 
Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N 
State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331; 
www.mafmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 
526-5255. The Council's website, www.mafmc.org, also has details on the 
meeting location, proposed agenda, webinar listen-in access, and 
briefing materials.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following items are on the agenda, 
although agenda items may be addressed out of order (changes will be 
noted on the Council's website when possible.)

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Proposed Rule To Update Regulations Associated With the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act's Confidentiality 
Requirements--NOAA Fisheries Staff

    Presentation and opportunity for questions/feedback.

Offshore Wind Fisheries Compensation Programs

    Summary of fishery information requirement for compensation 
eligibility.
    Data needs and challenges.
    Consider potential Council action.

2024 State of the Ecosystem Report--Dr. Sarah Gaichas, NEFSC

    Review and provide feedback.

2024 Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Risk Assessment 
Report

    Review draft report and provide feedback for further development.

Habitat Activities Update--Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office 
Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division

    Presentation on activities of interest (aquaculture, wind, and 
other projects) in the region.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Joint MAFMC/NEFMC Framework To Reduce Atlantic Sturgeon Interactions in 
the Monkfish/Dogfish Gillnet Fisheries: Final Action

    Review recommendations from the FMAT/PDT, Dogfish and Monkfish 
Advisory Panels, and joint Dogfish and Monkfish Committee.
    Review alternatives and impacts analyses.
    Select preferred alternatives and take final action.

NTAP Progress Report for Industry-Based Survey Pilot Program

    Review and provide feedback.

LUNCH

Golden Tilefish Catch Share Program Review

    Review public comments received.
    Approve program review and submit to NOAA Fisheries.
    Review recommendations from the Oversight Team and discuss next 
steps.

[[Page 20434]]

Golden Tilefish Assessment Overview--Pual Nitschke, NEFSC

    Overview of recently completed Research Track Stock Assessment.

Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Construction Sounds on Behavior of 
Longfin Squid and Black Sea Bass--Aran Mooney, Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution

    Review research on impacts of sound and behavior of longfin squid 
and black sea bass.

Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Exemptions Framework Meeting #1 (With 
ASMFC SFSBSB Board)

    Review preliminary analysis and public input.
    Approve draft range of alternatives for further analysis.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Business Session

    Committee Reports (SSC); Executive Director's Report; Organization 
Reports; and Liaison Reports.

Other Business and General Public Comment

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 
those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these 
meetings. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically 
identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of 
this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c).

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526-5251, at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 19, 2024.
Diane M. DeJames-Daly,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-06116 Filed 3-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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