National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The benchmark assessment of the South Atlantic black sea bass stock, completed in 2003 by SEDAR 2, will be updated with recent data during an assessment workshop to be held in Beaufort, NC.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2005 interim total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component of the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Oversight Committee in March, 2005. Recommendations from the committee will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), on behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes annual management measures governing the Pacific Halibut fishery which are approved by the Secretary of State. This action is intended to provide public notice of the effectiveness of these IPHC annual management measures and to inform persons subject to them of their restrictions and requirements.

Notice is hereby given that the following institutions have applied in due form for permits to conduct scientific research on marine mammals: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program, Coastal Office, Brunswick, GA (File No. 594-1759) and the Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA (File No. 633-1763).

NMFS announces 2005 and 2006 final harvest specifications and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2005 and 2006 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS announces the availability of Amendment 23 prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) that would establish a 10-year rebuilding plan for vermilion snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. The rebuilding plan seeks to achieve a 25.5-percent reduction in harvest based on the 2003 predicted landings. Measures to accomplish this reduction equitably for the commercial and recreational sectors of this fishery include increases in minimum size, a decreased recreational bag limit, and a closed commercial season. Amendment 23 would also establish biological reference points and stock status determination criteria for vermilion snapper (i.e., maximum sustainable yield (MSY), optimum yield (OY), maximum fishing mortality threshold (MFMT), and minimum stock size threshold (MSST), consistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). The intended effect of these measures is to end overfishing and rebuild the vermilion snapper resource consistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

In accordance with provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting oceanographic seismic surveys in the southwestern Pacific Ocean (SWPO) has been issued to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, (Scripps).

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District 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 specified for the Central Aleutian District.

NMFS announces that an annual harvest guideline for the commercial lobster fishery in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) will not be issued for the year 2005.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Joint Groundfish and Advisory Panels and Bycatch Oversight Committee in March, 2005 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Office of Ocean.US announces the opportunity to attend a briefing for interested organizations concerning plans to design, develop, fabricate, install and operate the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The IOOS is in the exploratory planning phase and all interested parties are invited to provide input, ideas, concepts and suggestions toward ensuring its effective development.

NMFS issues this emergency rule to establish trip limits for the commercial shallow-water and deep-water grouper fisheries in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico. The intended effect of this emergency rule is to moderate the rate of harvest of the available quotas and, thereby, reduce the adverse social and economic effects of derby fishing, enable more effective quota monitoring, and reduce the probability of overfishing.

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.

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

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing a draft revised management plan for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or Sanctuary). NOAA is issuing this notice to the public to invite advice, recommendations, information, and other comments from interested parties on the proposed Draft Management Plan. Public hearings will be held as detailed below: (1) Monday, March 28, 2005, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., in Marathon, FL. (2) Tuesday, March 29, 2005, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., in Key Largo, FL. (3) Wednesday, March 30, 2005, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., in Key West, FL.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received three scientific research permit applications and one modification request relating to Pacific salmon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel in March 2005. Recommendations from the committee will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2005 Atlantic Deep- Sea Red Crab (red crab) fishery, which are the same as specifications for the 2004 fishery. The target total allowable catch (TAC) and fleet days at sea (DAS) for fishing year (FY) 2005 is 5.928 million lb (2.69 million kg) and 780 fleet DAS, respectively. Accordingly, since one qualified limited access vessel has opted out of the fishery for FY2005, the four remaining vessels are each allocated 195 DAS. The intent of the specifications is to conserve and manage the red crab resource and provide for a sustainable fishery.

This notice announces the opportunity for the public to comment on the implementation and development of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).

Notice is hereby given that Thomas F. Savoy, CT Department of Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, Connecticut, 06371, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

Notice is hereby given that Dr. Terrie Williams, Long Marine Lab, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has requested an addendum to an amendment request to scientific research Permit No. 984-1587-03.

NMFS announces approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of collection-of-information requirements pertaining to permits, logbooks, vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and pre-trip notifications contained in the final rule to implement the approved portions of the U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (HMS FMP). The HMS FMP was partially approved on February 4, 2004, and the final rule to implement the approved portions of the HMS FMP was published in the Federal Register on April 7, 2004. At that time, the HMS FMP final rule contained collection-of- information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that were undergoing OMB review. This action announces receipt of OMB approval of data collections in the HMS FMP final rule for HMS permits, recordkeeping and reporting (daily logbooks), VMS, and pre-trip notification requirements for West Coast based U.S. fishing vessels targeting HMS. The intent of this notice is to inform the public of the effective date of the requirements approved by OMB.

In June 2004, NMFS proposed that Oregon Coast coho salmon be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The State of Oregon (hereafter, ``the State'') has recently made publically available a draft assessment of the viability of Oregon Coast coho salmon, as well as of the contributions of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (OPSW) to conserving Oregon Coast coho salmon. To ensure that the final listing determination for Oregon Coast coho salmon is based upon the best available scientific and commercial information, NMFS will be considering the information presented in the State's draft assessment (hereafter the ``draft Coho Project Report'') in determining the final listing status for the species. Accordingly, notice is hereby given of the availability of the State's draft Coho Project Report for public review and comment. NMFS is furnishing this notification to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on the State's analyses and findings. Specifically, NMFS is soliciting public comment on the State's assessment as it relates to the ESA listing status of Oregon Coast coho salmon, as well as other information concerning NMFS' final listing decision on Oregon Coast coho. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2005 pollock interim total allowable catch (TAC) specified for Statistical Area 630.