Department of Commerce June 28, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On January 3, 2011, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a sunset review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon from Norway pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). See Initiation of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Review, 76 FR 89 (January 3, 2011) (Sunset Initiation). On the basis of adequate substantive responses submitted by domestic and respondent interested parties, the Department determined to conduct a full sunset review of this CVD order pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(2). As a result of our analysis, the Department preliminary finds that revocation of the CVD order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy.

This proposed rule would require that Federal Atlantic swordfish, shark, and tunas dealers report commercially harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (BAYS) tunas to NMFS through an electronic reporting system. At this time, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) dealers would not be required to report bluefin tuna through this electronic reporting system, as a separate reporting system is currently in place for this species. This rulemaking also proposes that a dealer would only be authorized to receive commercially harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas if the dealer's previous reports have been submitted by the dealer and received by NMFS in a timely manner. Any delinquent reports would need to be submitted by the dealer and received by NMFS before a dealer could receive commercially harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas from a Federally permitted U.S. vessel. Finally, this rulemaking proposes that all first receivers of commercially harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas by Federally permitted U.S. vessels must obtain a corresponding Federal Atlantic swordfish, shark, and/or tunas dealer permit. First receivers must report the associated catch to NMFS through the electronic reporting system. These measures are necessary to ensure timely and accurate reporting, which is critical for quota monitoring and management of these species.

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 13 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This proposed rule will implement parts of proposed Amendment 13 to the CPS FMP, which is intended to ensure the FMP is consistent with advisory guidelines published in Federal regulations. Amendment 13 revises the framework process currently in place to set and adjust fishery specifications and management measures and modifies this framework to include the specification new reference points such as annual catch limit (ACL).

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to discuss the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recommendation for Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish mackerel and assessment priorities for 2013. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted Amendment 83 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) to NMFS for review. If approved, Amendment 83 would establish Pacific cod allocations in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska regulatory areas among various sectors and seasonal apportionments thereof. This action also would limit access to the Pacific cod parallel fishery for Federal fishery participants. This action is necessary to reduce the uncertainty regarding the distribution of Pacific cod catch, enhance stability among the sectors, maintain processing limits to protect coastal fishing communities, and provide entry-level opportunities for the jig sector. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.