Department of Commerce August 1, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes regulations to implement measures in Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 11 was developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to establish a tiered limited access program for the Atlantic mackerel (mackerel) fishery, and to make other changes to the management of the MSB fisheries. The Amendment 11 management measures include: A limited access program for mackerel; an open access incidental catch permit for mackerel; an update to essential fish habitat (EFH) designations for all life stages of mackerel, Loligo squid, Illex squid, and butterfish; and the establishment of a recreational allocation for mackerel. This rule also proposes minor, technical corrections to the existing regulations pertaining to the MSB fisheries.

Officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (NOAA); U.S. Department of Interior; and the five states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas are all designated, pursuant to section 1006(b) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), as trustees (Trustees) for natural resources harmed by this Incident. NOAA is serving as the Lead Administrative Trustee (LAT) for this emergency seagrass restoration. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, an Environmental Assessment for Emergency Restoration of Seagrass Impacts from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response (EA) was completed by NOAA, and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on July 8, 2011.

NMFS will hold a 3-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in September 2011. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. The meeting is open to the public.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a series of public hearings regarding Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the South Atlantic Region. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearings schedule.