Department of Commerce July 3, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces management measures for the 2019 summer flounder recreational fishery. The implementing regulations for this fishery require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year. The intent of this action is to achieve, but not exceed, the 2019 summer flounder recreational harvest limit and thereby prevent overfishing on the summer flounder stock.

NMFS has received a request from the United States Navy for the re-issuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the only change being effective dates that are one year later (July 16, 2020July 15 2021). The initial IHA authorized take of five species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to construction associated with the Service Pier Extension project (SPE) at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA issued in 2018 will be initiated under the effective dates of that IHA (July 16, 2019 through July 15, 2020). The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers would not change, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting would remain the same as authorized in the 2018 IHA referenced above. NMFS is, therefore, issuing a second IHA to cover the incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.