National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 17, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold a meeting of its King and Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel (AP) via conference call to address: (1) Amendment 17 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerel) Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, and (2) the coastal migratory pelagics resources component of Generic Amendment 3 for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, Stone Crab, Coral and Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, and Spiny Lobster and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. Amendment 17 addresses the current charter/ headboat permit moratorium for the Gulf of Mexico fishery. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a series of 10 public hearings regarding Amendment 13C to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 13C is intended to eliminate or phase out overfishing of snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass; and increase red porgy harvest consistent with the red porgy rebuilding plan. The underlying need of the amendment is to end overfishing while achieving optimum yield from each fishery through the implementation of new or modification of existing regulations. To address overfishing, the Council is proposing regulations that can be implemented in early 2006, with provisions to allow for a year-round fishery to occur. More specifically, the Council is considering, for the commercial sector, new or adjusted: catch quotas, size limits, trip limits, seasonal closures, fishing year start dates, and gear restrictions. Management measures for the recreational sector would include new or adjusted: catch allocations, bag limits, size limits, and seasonal closures.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the environmental impacts of issuing permits facilitating research on endangered northern right whales. Publication of this notice begins the official scoping process that will help identify alternatives and determine the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process and provides information on how to participate.

This document corrects an earlier version of this action that was published on October 3, 2005, in which the ACTION statement was omitted. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has submitted a Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has submitted an amendment to an FMEP pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for Lower Columbia River (LCR) coho salmon under the Endangered Species Act. The FMEPs specify the future management of inland recreational fisheries potentially affecting LCR coho salmon. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the FMEPs for review and comment before final approval or disapproval is made by NMFS.