Department of Commerce August 18, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), for a direct take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The duration of the proposed Permit is ten years. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the permit application. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to the ESA.

NMFS announces that 90 percent of the Trimester 2 Loligo squid (Loligo) quota is projected to be harvested by 0001 hours, August 23, 2011. Therefore, the directed Loligo fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be closed as of 0001 hours, August 23, 2011, and vessels issued a Federal permit are prohibited from possessing or landing more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of Loligo for the remainder of Trimester 2 (through August 31, 2011). The directed Loligo fishery will re-open for Trimester 3 on September 1, 2011. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding its Trimester 2 allocation of 11,190,664 lb (5,076 mt), and to allow for effective management of this stock.