Department of Commerce January 24, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues this proposed rule that would implement a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would establish a June through July seasonal closure of the recreational sector for greater amberjack in or from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The intended effect of the proposed rule is to maintain the rebuilding plan targets for the overfished greater amberjack resource, reduce the likelihood of exceeding the recreational quota for greater amberjack, minimize in-season quota closures for greater amberjack during peak recreational fishing months, and increase social and economic benefits for Gulf recreational fishers by maximizing the number of fishing days available to the recreation sector. This rule also proposes revisions to the codified text to clarify the definition of a venting device used to deflate the abdominal cavity of a Gulf reef fish.

NMFS has designated the States of Maine, Florida and Louisiana as exempted States for anglers, spear fishers and for-hire fishing vessels. NMFS has designated the States of Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia as exempted States for anglers and spear fishers.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

On April 19, 2010, and May 7, 2010, NMFS published notices of proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, by Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell) incidental to offshore exploration drilling on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska, during July through October, 2010. Notice is hereby given that these IHAs were not issued, and Shell did not conduct the proposed exploration drilling programs in 2010.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee's (SSC) Social and Economic Subpanel to review the Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper Evaluation, review draft Regulatory Amendment 9 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic addressing commercial trip limits, discuss snapper grouper and golden crab draft catch share amendments, discuss the development of annual advisory panel reports, and discuss methodologies for predicting future catch levels for use in amendment analyses. The meeting will be held in North Charleston, SC. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.