Department of Commerce March 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject programmatic Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application for the Study Fleet Program contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. Study Fleet projects are managed by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and funded under the Northeast Cooperative Research Partners Program (NCRPP) contracts and Research Set-Aside (RSA) grants to regional institutions. The programmatic EFP would grant exemptions from minimum fish size and possession and landing limits. However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to issue a programmatic EFP that would allow up to 30 vessels to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

NMFS closes the recreational fishery for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). NMFS has determined this action is necessary to prevent the recreational fishery from exceeding its quota for the fishing year. This closure is necessary to prevent overfishing of Gulf red snapper.

Notice is hereby given that the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region, Protected Resources Division [Responsible Party: Mary Colligan], One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1614.

NMFS reduces the trip limit in the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone to 500 lb (227 kg) of king mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

NMFS announces partial approval of an application from the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to intentionally take, by lethal methods, individually identifiable California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) that prey on Pacific salmon and steelhead (Onchorhynchus spp.) listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon. This authorization is pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS also announces availability of an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that analyzes impacts on the human environment from NMFS' authorization to the States to lethally remove California sea lions.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92- 463 as amended by Public Law 94-409, Public Law 96-523, Public Law 97- 375 and Public Law 105-153), we are announcing a meeting of the Bureau of Economic Analysis Advisory Committee. The meeting will address the new classification system for consumer expenditures, how ``offshoring'' might bias the GDP statistics, and some sources of the moderation in GDP volatility.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has canceled its Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) meeting via conference call.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch for vessels participating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District of the BSAI. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific ocean perch allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District of the BSAI.

NMFS is seeking information regarding nations whose vessels are engaged in illegal, unregulated, or unreported (IUU) fishing or engaged in bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs). Such information will be reviewed for the purposes of the identification of nations pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act).

Notice is hereby given that Zvi Livnat, P.O. Box 1209, Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial/educational photography of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris).

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Allocation Committee in North Charleston, SC.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), its Science and Statistical Committee (SSC), its Ad Hoc Excessive Shares Committee, the Mid-Atlantic section of the Joint Monkfish Committee, its Protected Resources Committee, its Research Set-Aside (RSA) Committee, its Executive Committee, its Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Committee, its Bycatch Committee, and its Demersal Committee, will hold public meetings.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 140th meeting to consider and take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

NMFS notifies the public that the United States has accepted conservation and management measures and a resolution pertaining to fishing in Antarctic waters managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (Commission or CCAMLR). The Commission adopted these measures at its twenty-sixth meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, October 22 to November 2, 2007. The measures have been agreed upon by the Member countries of CCAMLR, including the United States, in accordance with Article IX of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (the Convention). The measures include: measures previously adopted by the Commission and remaining in force; measures adopted for the 2007/ 2008 fishing season to restrict overall catches, research catch and bycatch 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. The full text of all the measures adopted by CCAMLR can also be found on CCAMLR's website www.ccamlr.org.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)/Enforcement Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).