National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 24, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460 [Dr. Howard C. Rosenbaum, Principal Investigator], has been issued a permit to obtain and import/export marine mammal specimens for purposes of scientific research.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel with gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District (area 541) and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas. NMFS is also announcing the opening and closure dates of the first and second directed fisheries within the harvest limit area (HLA) in Statistical Areas 542 and 543. These actions are necessary to prevent exceeding the HLA limits established for the Central (area 542) and Western (area 543) Aleutian Districts pursuant to the interim 2005 Atka mackerel TAC.

Notice is hereby given that Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664, (Shannon Atkinson, Ph.D., Principal Investigator) has been issued an amendment to Permit No. 881-1710-02 to conduct research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

The Department of Commerce is seeking nominations for membership on the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee was established to advise the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior in implementing Section 4 of Executive Order 13158 and specifically on strategies and priorities for developing the national system of MPAs and on practical approaches to further enhance and expand protection of new and existing MPAs. The Department of Commerce is seeking up to three highly qualified individuals. Nominations are sought for non-federal scientists, resource managers, and persons representing other interests or organizations involved with or affected by marine conservation. Individuals seeking membership on the Committee should possess demonstrable expertise in a field related to MPAs or represent a stakeholder interest affected by MPAs. Nominees will also be evaluated based on the following factors: marine policy experience, leadership and organization skills, region of country represented, and diversity characteristics.