Department of Commerce September 5, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces a workshop to solicit input from participants in the pollock fishery in the Bering Sea authorized under the American Fisheries Act (AFA), the Aleutian Islands pollock fishery, the Amendment 80 trawl fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program, and the hook-and-line catcher/processor (freezer longline) Pacific cod fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The workshop will address: (1) The applicability of cost recovery fees mandated under section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to the AFA, Aleutian Islands pollock fishery, Amendment 80 Program, CDQ Program, and the freezer longline Pacific cod fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; (2) an overview of the potential impacts of cost recovery programs; and (3) an overview of proposed regulatory approaches to implement cost recovery programs. The meeting is open to the public, but NMFS is particularly seeking participation by people who are knowledgeable about the AFA, Aleutian Islands pollock fishery, Amendment 80, CDQ Program, and the freezer longline Pacific cod fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and who can discuss with NMFS the potential impacts of cost recovery programs and proposed regulatory approaches.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2013 initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

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.