Department of Commerce December 21, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes new and revised definitions for certain regulatory terms, and procedural and technical changes to the regulations addressing scientific research activities, exempted fishing, and exempted educational activities under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This action is necessary to provide better administration of these activities and to revise the regulations consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA). NMFS intends to clarify the regulations, ensure necessary information to complete required analyses is requested and made available, and provide for expedited review of permit applications where possible.

Notice is hereby given that the North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, has applied in due form for a permit to import two juvenile harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for the purposes of public display.

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') is conducting a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel bar from India manufactured and exported by Ambica Steels Limited (``Ambica''). The period of review is February 1, 2006, through July 31, 2006. In these final results, we have determined to apply adverse facts available.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Ad Hoc Recreational Red Snapper Advisory Panel (AP).

The South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils (Councils) will hold a public scoping meeting regarding amending the spiny lobster fishery management plan to address the importation of spiny lobster products that do not meet U.S. conservation standards. The amendment will examine various alternatives to restrict imports of spiny lobster into the United States to a minimum acceptable length and/or weight. Spiny Lobsters are currently being imported below the U.S. minimum size limits. Much of the imported lobster does not meet the minimum size limits in the country of origin. This is adversely impacting recruitment throughout Florida and the Caribbean and, as a result, the status of spiny lobster in Caribbean and U.S. waters because of the distribution and dispersal of larvae.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee (SSLMC) will meet in Seattle, WA at the Nexus Hotel (January 6) and the Alaska Fishery Science Center (January 7 and 8).

At its Twenty-Sixth Meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, from October 22 to November 2, 2007, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), of which the United States is a member, adopted conservation and management measures and resolutions, pending countries' approval, pertaining to fishing in the CCAMLR Convention Area. All the measures were agreed upon in accordance with Article IX of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Measures adopted restrict overall catches of certain species of finfish, squid, krill and crabs, restrict fishing in certain areas, restrict use of certain fishing gear, specify implementation and inspection obligations supporting the Catch Documentation Scheme of Contracting Parties, and promote compliance with CCAMLR measures by non-Contracting Party vessels. This notice includes the full text of the new and revised conservation measures adopted at the Twenty-Sixth meeting of CCAMLR. This notice also includes a listing of conservation measures that carry over from last year without change. The full text of these measures was published in the Federal Register on January 29, 2007. NMFS suggests that the public view these measures along with the measures contained in this Federal notice for a complete listing of all the measures adopted by CCAMLR at its recent meeting. The full text of all the measures adopted by CCAMLR can also be found on CCAMLR's Web sitehttps://www.ccamlr.org. This notice, therefore, together with the U.S. regulations referenced under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, provides a comprehensive register of all current U.S. obligations under CCAMLR.