Department of Commerce April 2, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the Coonamessett Farm Foundation contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would allow a participating party/charter fishing vessel to temporarily possess undersized black sea bass for tagging and biological sampling purposes. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Bluefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Mackerel and Cobia Advisory Panel (AP) and Cobia Sub-Panel.

Notice is hereby given that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Muckleshoot Tribe, and the Suquamish Tribe have prepared 10 Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans, to be considered jointly, to NMFS pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule for salmon and steelhead promulgated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plans specify the propagation of four species of salmon and steelhead in the Duwamish/Green River basin of Washington State. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the proposed evaluation and pending determination of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) as to whether implementation of the joint plans will appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of ESA- listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget Sound steelhead.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Salmon Bycatch Workshop will meet April 15, 2019 through April 16, 2019.

The Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils) have submitted Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Lobster in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP), for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 13 would modify the applicable Federal regulations for the harvest of spiny lobster in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Florida to be compatible with Florida regulations, and would re- establish a procedure for an enhanced cooperative management with Florida. The purpose of Amendment 13 is to more effectively manage and enforce the harvest of spiny lobster.