Department of Commerce February 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Council will hold a meeting of its SSC to review the revision assessments for Blueline Tilefish, Red Grouper, Black Sea Bass, and Vermilion Snapper conducted by NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) staff using the newly calibrated Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) catch estimates. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) through this temporary rule for commercial harvest of king mackerel in the southern zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using run-around gillnet gear. NMFS has determined that the commercial annual catch limit (equivalent to the commercial quota) for king mackerel using run-around gillnet gear in the southern zone of the Gulf EEZ has been reached. Therefore, NMFS closes the southern zone to commercial king mackerel fishing using run-around gillnet gear in the Gulf EEZ on February 8, 2019. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2019 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 131st Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting, Joint Advisory Panel (AP) meeting, 176th Council meeting and its associated meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. A portion of the Council's Executive, Budget and Legislative Standing Committee meeting will be closed to the public.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings.

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 the proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 50 feet length overall (LOA) using hook-and- line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2019 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to catcher vessels less than 50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain lined paper products from India for the period of review (POR) January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a proposed extension of an existing information collection: 0651-0044 (Invention Promoters/Promotion Firms Complaints).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council was to hold a methodology review meeting to evaluate and review fishery independent visual survey methodologies, using remotely operate vehicles, for nearshore groundfish species off the states of Oregon and California. The meeting has been cancelled.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a teleconference on March 8, 2019.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee will hold a public meeting.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet April 1, 2019 through April 9, 2019.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) has begun its annual preseason management process for the 2019 ocean salmon fisheries. This document announces the availability of Pacific Council documents as well as the dates and locations of Pacific Council meetings and public hearings comprising the Pacific Council's complete schedule of events for determining the annual proposed and final modifications to ocean salmon fishery management measures. The agendas for the March and April 2019 Pacific Council meetings will be published in subsequent Federal Register documents prior to the actual meetings.

Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Air Force Launches and Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VADB), California. On January 24, 2019, we published a proposed rule to establish a framework under the authority of the MMPA to allow for the authorization of take of marine mammals incidental to operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB). We published this proposed rule during the government shut-down, and incorrectly stated who made a certification under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The proposed rule omitted a Department of Commerce (DOC) docket number and has been added after the part heading. Also, an incorrect FDMS docket number was inserted. This notification corrects these errors.

NMFS issues regulations to modify management of the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Program and Crab Rationalization (CR) Program. This final rule has two actions. The first action modifies regulations for AFA Program and CR Program vessels subject to limits on the catch of specific species (sideboard limits) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Management Area and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Management Area. This first action establishes regulations to prohibit directed fishing for specific groundfish species rather than prohibiting directed fishing each year through the BSAI and GOA annual harvest specifications. The second action removes the requirement for the designated representatives of AFA inshore cooperatives to submit a weekly catch report. This rule is intended to reduce administrative burdens associated with managing sideboard limits through annual harvest specifications without changing NMFS's inseason management of sideboard limits. Additionally, this rule reduces reporting burdens for the designated representatives and members of AFA inshore cooperatives. This rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, and other applicable laws.

This action implements an in-season adjustment to the Atlantic herring specifications and sub-annual catch limits for 2019. These adjustments are necessary to reduce 2018 herring catch limits that would otherwise remain in effect for 2019. This action is expected to prevent overfishing of the herring resource and lower the risk of the stock becoming overfished.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings of the Council and its Committees.