Department of Commerce March 29, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This proposed rule would implement additional handling, release, and disentanglement requirements for sea turtles and other non-target species caught in the shark bottom longline (BLL) fishery. These requirements are intended to reduce post hooking mortality of sea turtles and other non-target species, which is an objective of Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks (HMS FMP) published on December 24, 2003. This proposed rule would also implement management measures that are consistent with those implemented by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) on October 28, 2005. These complementary management measures are intended to minimize adverse impacts to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for reef-dwelling species. The proposed rule would apply to all participants in the Atlantic shark fishery.

NMFS announces a meeting of the General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the IATTC on April 11, 2006, via telephone conference call.

NMFS announces that the Administrator, Northeast (NE) Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is removing the Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder trip limit for NE multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) vessels fishing in the U.S./Canada Management Area. This action is authorized by the regulations implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and is intended to prevent under- harvesting of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for GB yellowtail flounder while ensuring that the TAC will not be exceeded during the 2005 fishing year. This action is being taken to provide additional opportunities for vessels to fully harvest the GB yellowtail flounder TAC under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

We (NMFS) have completed an updated Endangered Species Act (ESA) status review of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations in the Puget Sound area (Washington). We initiated this review in response to a petition received from Mr. Sam Wright on September 13, 2004, to list Puget Sound steelhead as a threatened or endangered species. We have determined that naturally spawned winter- and summer-run steelhead populations and two hatchery steelhead stocks, below natural and manmade impassable barriers, in the river basins of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and Hood Canal (Washington) constitute a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and hence a ``species'' for listing consideration under the ESA. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial information, evaluating threats facing the species, and taking into account those efforts being made to protect the species, we conclude that the Puget Sound steelhead DPS is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Therefore, we are proposing that the Puget Sound steelhead DPS be listed under the ESA as a threatened species. We will announce the timing and location of a public hearing to be held in the Puget Sound area, and propose 4(d) protective regulations and critical habitat for the Puget Sound steelhead DPS in subsequent Federal Register notices. We are soliciting public comment on this proposed listing determination, as well as any other information relevant to the designation of critical habitat and the promulgation of 4(d) protective regulations for the Puget Sound steelhead DPS.