Department of Commerce February 15, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that: seven applications have been received for permits to conduct research on free-ranging threatened and endangered Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in California, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska; five applications have been received for permits to conduct research on free-ranging northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in Alaska; and one application has been received for an amendment to a permit for activities with captive Steller sea lions in Alaska.

NMFS announces the availability of a revised list of equipment models that NMFS has approved as meeting the minimum design specifications for the careful release of sea turtles caught in hook and line fisheries. The revised list is available at https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Protected%20Resources/RequiredGear. pdf. The list is not a list of required gears, but is a list of NMFS approved models of equipment that may be used as options to meet the requirements for gear that must be carried on board vessels participating in the Atlantic pelagic and bottom longline fisheries. Equipment may also be fabricated and used by individuals according to the minimum design specifications. The benefit of using these gears is to maximize safe and efficient gear removal from incidentally captured sea turtles thereby minimizing the potential for serious injury or mortality.

NMFS announces the availability, for public review and comment, of proposed Amendment 14 to the FMP for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Pelagics FMP). The amendment responds to the Secretary of Commerce's determination that overfishing is occurring on bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) Pacific-wide, and on yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). The measures in the amendment are designed to end overfishing of bigeye tuna Pacific-wide and yellowfin tuna in the WCPO, as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). Amendment 14 would establish Federal permitting and reporting requirements for all U.S. Hawaii-based small boat commercial pelagic fishermen. Internationally, Amendment 14 would establish for the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) an internal protocol related to its role in managing pelagic fish stocks that are managed internationally, including its participation in U.S. delegations to meetings of regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs). This amendment also recommends that NMFS and the Department of State work through the RFMOs to immediately end overfishing of bigeye tuna Pacific-wide and WCPO yellowfin tuna, focusing on fisheries with the greatest impact on Pacific bigeye tuna and WCPO yellowfin tuna, i.e., longline and purse seine fisheries.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod specified for catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI.

The Oceans and Human Health Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108 447) created a national, interagency research program to improve understanding of the role of the oceans in human health. Section 903(a) of this Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI) to coordinate and implement research and activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) related to the role of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. Section 903(b) of the OHH Act further authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish an oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the development and implementation of the NOAA OHHI. This advisory panel is to provide for balanced representation of individuals with multi-disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences and is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). In 2005, authorities provided to the Secretary of Commerce under the OHH Act were delegated to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and then redesignated to the Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management. Initial appointments to the advisory panel were completed by the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management in May 2006. Date and Time: The meeting will be held Thursday March 8, 2007 from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Friday March 9, 2007 from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Location: The meeting will be held at the Hotel Deca, Seattle Washington, 4507 Brooklyn Ave, NE., Seattle, Washington (WA) 98105; (Tel) 206-634-2000. Meeting rooms are the Chancellor and College Rooms and subject to change.