Department of Commerce July 20, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, La Jolla, California, (Responsible Party: George Watters, PhD, Director), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals in the Antarctic.

NMFS proposes to repeal the Fishery Management Plan for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) and remove its implementing regulations, as requested by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). The stone crab fishery takes place primarily in state waters (off the coast of Florida) and Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is extending its management into Federal waters. Repealing the Federal regulations would eliminate duplication of management efforts, reduce costs, and align with the President's Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' to ensure Federal regulations are more effective and less burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives. The intended effect of this action is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of managing the stone crab fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf).

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee, on August 9-10, 2011, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

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.